Judging
Imagine being a passenger in a car speeding down a highway. You pass a speed limit sign says SPEED LIMIT 60 MPH (100 KMH). But the driver is going 90 mph (150 mph). You tell the driver to slow down. The driver replies “But I’m born to speed!”
“You shouldn’t speed”
“Stop being so judgemental.”
“Come on man. Going this fast is wrong. Someone could get killed.”
“You’re so judgemental. You’re such a hateful bigot against speeders!”
There are so many ways to go with this. I would like to say all I’m thinking, but I don’t want to write a book. I also don’t want to bore everyone to tears.
Pointing out a wrong is not judging if it’s a law. Either man’s law, like speeding, or God’s law like murder or homosexuality. I know I will get into trouble for saying this. So listen up!
Galatians 5:19-21
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Everyone on this planet is a sinner. Everyone. And once a sinner always a sinner. All sinners fail to meet God’s standards. Whether you have told a little lie or stole a small inexpensive item, to if you are a mass murderer, or anything in between, you have failed to meet God’s standard. The good news is we can all be forgiven. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, then rose again physically. John 3:16 says, For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Remember, pointing out somebody’s sin, is not being judgemental any more than pointing out to someone they’re speeding. Be careful though. Be sure your facts are correct.
Years ago I was leading a Bible study and I came up with a little story. Here it is.
Every Friday afternoon Mr. Jones who happens to be a head Deacon at The First Something Church would enter a bar on Fourth Street. This happened every Friday at about 3:00PM. Sometimes he’d stay in that bar for 20 minutes, sometimes as long as an hour or more. Some of the people of First Something Church were beginning to talk. Saying Mr. Jones must be a sinful drinking man unfit to be a head Deacon of the First Something Church.
The truth is Mr. Jones is a salesman. He enters the bar to sell napkins and paper towels. After he takes the weekly order he visits with the bar owner and some of the drinking customers. Mr. Jones has actually lead one beer-drinking man to the Lord. And although the bar owner never became a Christian (yet) he would still once in awhile visit the First Something Church.
Before you start accusing somebody for doing something wrong, be sure you get your facts straight first. On the other hand if you know someone is doing something wrong, point it out, lovingly.
Luke 17:3
So watch yourselves! “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive.”
There is another kind of judging that I want to talk about. The kind that everyone has done at one time or another. And that’s judging someone because of there looks, disability, religion or whatever.
Boeing 747-8
I have never met a person who is not guilty of being judgemental. I hate to say it, but I’m guilty of it. Many years ago I met a man who didn’t talk much and was always hunched over a little. And because of his looks, I didn’t believe he was a very smart man. Later I found out he’s a mechanical engineer at Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company.
I myself have been the victim too. So many people seem to think that hearing loss means brain loss. Anyone familiar with this blog knows my thinking and reasoning skills are just as good as anyone else.
This brings up an interesting question. I know that there some who believes that if someone is disabled, in a wheelchair and unabled to use their muscles or talk, they can’t be very intelligent. So here’s the question. How do they explain Stephen Hawking?
Matthew 7:1-2
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”
Something to think about.
My Thoughts 