I’ve written a bit about not judging, but this post is from an opposite perspective of what I’ve traditionally written. It struck me as I read an article about a particular sin, that I won’t mention because I’m sick of people highlighting certain sins, that the new idea prevalent in our society is to call something right, which the Bible clearly says isn’t right, and then argue that since it is right you can’t have any other opinion about it other than believing it is right. I want to submit to you that if I can not judge what is wrong, then you can not judge what is right! “Judging” is “judging.” First I have to address the SERIOUS misunderstanding and negative connotations that come when the word “judge” is spoken. It’s out of pure ignorance (notice I didn’t use the word stupidity) that people talk about the Bible telling us not to judge. So you are saying the Bible tells us not to “form an opinion or conclusion about,” because that is in fact the definition of judge. So I’m not supposed to form conclusions about anything good or bad? I can’t make a judgement that a child sexual predator shouldn’t be allowed near my children? Or even something simple like if my shirt looks good on me in the morning. Pure ignorance. Before you go around with this argument why don’t you consider what you are actually saying. The word “Krino” when used in the context “to judge” literally means, “to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong.” Right or wrong! When you go around and say something is right YOU are making a judgement. YOU then are being a hypocrite if we are going to be honest with ourselves. I (according to you) can’t say anything is wrong without being called judgmental, but you can go around calling whatever you “feel” is right right, and NOT be called judgmental. Of course making a judgement about me being judgmental is also judging, BUT we won’t even go there for the sake of this argument.
This whole calling wrong right isn’t a new thought. Isaiah 5:20 clearly says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” So whether or not I call something good or evil I’m still judging. What does the Bible say though? Well, it says, in Matthew 7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” Most stop here, but the rest of the verse tells us how to judge, “…first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” It also says in John 7:24, “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” This tells us that there IS a way to judge right or wrong. What is the answer? Righteous judgement as the word for “correctly or righteously in the Greek means, “approved of or acceptable of God!” If you judge righteously – by the measure keeping with God’s commandments- you will ALSO be judged righteously. So let’s stop figuring out for ourselves what WE deem right and wrong and use a standard. As a Christian this standard should be the Bible. If not a Christian you will still be judged my this standard -like it or not- BUT my blog is geared towards believers, so that is a mute point.
To put the above paragraph into fruition, don’t tell me that a sin that contradicts the Biblical teaching is “right” and then ask me to accept it in the name of “love” because that is what Jesus would do. One, because you have no right to judge unrighteously, even what you believe is right as we have been over, and two, because you are failing to realize that Jesus IS the final judge. Please don’t misunderstand me. I don’t condone going around condemning anyone, but this is exactly why I think Christians need to understand how saying something that is biblically wrong is “right” could be very harmful. When you say something that the Bible says is wrong is right, and that Jesus “loves” this type of behavior, you are deceiving that person/people. A person only has once to die and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). If we go through life only affirming one another, no matter what the sin in their lives, we aren’t fulfilling our Biblical obligation to help others obtain righteousness, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16. We are failing them. They are affirmed in their actions and quite frankly could be going to hell (we only know them by their fruits, so this is why I said “could be”). It isn’t your job to be Jesus. Whether that is making an assumption of what is right OR wrong. The only measure you have in deciding “what would Jesus do” is the Biblical one. There is a super clear warning in 1 Corinthians 6:9. It literally STARTS with a clear warning, “DO NOT BE DECEIVED” and yet we are so deceived as a people. I never knew why this warning was there until the other day. Even with this warning we want so badly to call these listed sins right, and to say that Jesus will accept them as we should too. Even though Romans 12:9 tells us to “abhor what is evil.” We can’t make the Bible our own personal opinion book. If you want to know what is right and wrong use the Biblical standard, and please don’t go around saying Jesus won’t judge. This just goes to show that you have not once read Revelation. Or the whole Bible honestly because it is written all throughout. John 5, Acts 10, Matthew 25, and Revelation 19 to name a few. The point that we should all adhere to is not to ever affirm right or wrong without applying a Biblical standard (i.e. knowing what the Bible teaches on the subject and never making morality subjective). Jesus will judge righteously and so should you. Revelation 19:11, “in righteousness he judges.”
**Side note- So what of Jesus saying he didn’t come to judge? Yea, that confused the apostles too. They thought he was coming to rule and reign. Then he died on a cross. It wasn’t until he rose from the dead 3 days later that the apostles had hope that He would come again to rule (i.e. He was indeed the true Messiah). What people fail to realize is that Jesus came in submission to His Father. He came to share the gospel so that all would hear and believe. THEN the second time He comes, riding in the clouds, He will come as judge. Don’t be deceived that Jesus is “ok” with all sin because he is loving, not judgmental, and not condemning. He’s also righteous and holy (as His Father) and WILL judge sin. Don’t affirm sin, abhor what is evil, and cling to what is good. But most importantly repent and believe. It is only through this belief that you can be washed clean of your sin. God’s grace and love, His lamb of sacrifice, covers all sin and iniquity! Believe and you can have eternal life in Heaven!!!!
girloutofthebox 