“Who are you? What right do you have to judge me?’
Oh yeah. Been there done that. In fact, I would guess that most of us have either heard that from someone’s lips, or have even had that said to us directly. It usually falls on the heels of someone making a pronouncement that something is wrong with an action. “The Bible says…” “I don’t care what the Bible says.” Some will pull back and assess the situation. If we dislike conflict, or want to maintain an open door, we will not say another word. Others, with a “devil-may-care” attitude will press on or lower the boom.
Have you ever taken a deeper look at Romans 2? An interesting passage of Scripture, to say the least. The starting word in verse 1 is a “therefore,” which always tells us to look at what was said before. The basis for what Paul is about to write is actually found in the final verse of chapter 1. After calling sin…sin…Paul then confronts those who know certain actions are wrong, but not only do them but give the okay to others to do them. He then says that judgment will fall and there will be no escape from God’s wrath. (Ooh, now there is that bad word I talked about here). God’s wrath and God’s justice go hand in hand, along with God’s love. (Please take a look at some of the comments given to that post, particularly by Seth and Moe and Desert Jim). One thing Romans 2 teaches us is to be sure there is a judgment and it will be made by a righteous and just judge. Verse 7, for example, tells us what will be for those who follow Christ; while verse 8 gives the pronouncement of judgment against those who reject God’s offer of salvation. The coup de grace is verse 10: “For God shows no partiality.”
So, what will God do the judging on?
- He will judge the words we have spoken. Matt.12:36-37 speaks about every careless word we have used.
- He will judge the deeds we have done. Matt.25 speaks about “when I was hungry, you fed me; when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink…”
- He will judge our motives. Col.3:23-24 speaks about doing all things “unto the Lord.” Why do I do what I do?
- He will judge our faithfulness. Matt.25:21 speaks about hearing “well done, good and faithful servant.”
I have often told people, “I sure am glad I am not the final judge.” I’m not even sure I would let me in! 🙂 But then again, I am not the Judge. He is. And while His wrath and justice are true, so is His grace (which I will rely heavily upon). What about you? Are you a judgmental person? Do you find yourself condemning people a lot? Of the four points of judgment given above, which will be your “hurdle?” I’d like to hear your thoughts.
Yes, I am a judgemental person. I find myself condemning people a lot and I only realize that after reflecting on what I’ve done or when I find myself making the same mistake. I need God to help me change that.
I think no. 1 and 4 will be my hurdle and I know I will overcome them by His grace. Despite my unfaithfulness, God has always been faithful to me.
Thanks for your honesty Mercy. We all struggle with some type of judgmentalism I think. When you know it, you can work on it. So true what you say about God. Thanks.
I’m not. I’m more laid back than most. But I will be the first to admit that when it comes to forgiving and letting go I have trouble.
Seems like a “can’t win” sometimes doesn’t it? Where we might win with one thing, we have something else that dogs our tracks. you are a man of God though Michael and He will certainly use your honesty to challenge the Kingdom. Thanks for coming by.
The story of the adulteress woman brings this to light for me.
The law demanded that she be stoned, so the issue here wasn’t that she wasn’t supposed to be… she was.
The issue in that story is that those who were judging her had no right to stone her because they themselves were guilty of breaking the law. If you break one of the laws you are guilty of breaking them all.
Oddly enough, the one who had the right to stone her, the one without sin is the one that ended up forgiving her. Amazing story.
As far as I go. It’s very easy to judge people, but as the text you mention, we have to be very aware of our condition before we make judgment. For me, the hardest things is every word that comes out of my mouth. I don’t curse much (if at all) but I have both blessed God and spoke ill of my brother.
Ok, now, where do you keep your repentance corner over here?
That is a great story to apply here Moe! Thanks for including it in your response. I sometimes have the same “double-sided mouth” response. BTw: I can’t find that corner either. 🙂 thanks for the input.
I’m not a judgmental person, and I make every effort not to be. I try to avoid getting sucked into any talk when I may not know the full situation. I believe there’s a way to do and approach things.
I guess the biggest “hurdle” for me would be faithfulness. I think that something that rolls of the tongue easily, but it’s much easier said than done.
I too try to be very careful making judgements Jon. Not always easy but I try to remember where I came from. Thanks for the honesty on the hurdle. Appreciate your comment.
I’m not a judgmental person…really I’m not! Hmmmmm, I wonder? Let’s put it this way, I try NOT to be this way and for the most part I think it’s true…but man, I soooo need Jesus in this area. Thanks Bill for the slap in the face this morning…it’s all good!
I try NOT to be also jay. I slapped myself first before every laying a hand on someone else. 🙂 Thanks and “sorry” for the wake up call so early.
I’ve noticed that I’m more judgemental in the church than outside of it. I can find compassion for sinners in the outside world, but I often catch myself silently judging people in my church. God has been showing me this recently and I’m praying about it. I have to remember we’re all human. Christians aren’t perfect either. And I wouldn’t be able to stand up under my own judgement, so I have no right to judge others.
I probably struggle with #1 the most. I tend to blurt things out and think later…
I have noticed that as well Jenn about myself. I think what goes through my mind is “he/she ought to know better.” Then doggone it if I don’t look in the mirror. I also have foot in mouth disease way too often. Thanks for the comment.
I’ll ake it one step further than Jenn. Im more judgemental with my own family thaI am with people outside the church. I’m working on it though.
Sometimes that happens Ed. We become too close to the situation. Thanks for your openness.
It is funny – I do not view myself as judgmental but I find myself judging people. I have shared this before but it serves as a reminder for me. I worked in a church with a food pantry and I would smile and talk with the people as I took them to get the food but inside I would find myself judging them – never saying anything mean or ugly to them but I would be so judgmental. God broke my heart one day – it has help me from being so judgmental but I still find it in myself at times.
Excellent post to get me thinking!
Oh man, Jim, the silent judgment. i too am guilty of that, especially when people call on the phone. When we would help people and know they went from church to church it fried me. but it was not my call to judge them but to love and help. Thanks for the honest comment.
Hey you! Just spoke to Steve… thought I’d pop by to say hey & oh… yeah… you’ve been prayed for already this morning.
Don’t judge me because I haven’t stopped by the blog & commented in a while. Still praying those dangerous prayers!
Love you & the fam!
Hey Camey! judge you? After I almost took you all off my daily prayer list? how could you think i would do such a thing? 🙂 So good to hear from you. I think it is a conspiracy though. Steve is trying to get me on fb and you, Heidi and Steve have all contacted me. Thanks for your prayers, and as my comment shows I still pray for you, Dick and the boys. Love you all too.
Hi Bill,
What’s on my mind lately about judging is that No 1. we are to judge ourselves. Then we are able to judge others. I think most people think of judging as condemning, when in fact judging can mean correction, kindness, lovingness, and encouragement to a believer’s life.
For the children of God it’s all about doing what God has asked us to do. If we don’t obey are we that certain that we have eternal life? I have alot of questins about this idea of eternal salvation under any wrong conduct or worldly thinking of a believer. Is this person really God’s? If not, there is no salvation for them.
This circumstance needs correction, judgment and helps for the person who is going astray. This judging is love, not condemnation. Evil is letting this person go astray without the courage to speak into their lives the truth of God. The question that needs to be answered for the children of God is what is truth? Then he/she needs to follow it.
How can there be a reward for a disobedient child? Salvation is much more than the average christian believes that it is. It requires obedience, faithfulness to the name of Jesus Christ, a dedicated walk with God. Otherwise why would God condemn anyone in the world whether saved or unsaved?
If we can all sin and follow our flesh as a christian then there can be no condemnation for the world because the world is doing the same thing.
I have no answer to your question Linda. God will ultimately have to judge that. I personally have difficulty thinking God drops us like a hot potato just because we are disobedient or go astray. If that is the case, I am in deep trouble. 🙂 But I can also see your point. Thanks for your contribution and thoughts.
hi Bill,
I don’t think that God drops us like a hot potatoe. Many times we slowly move away from God because we have different goals and ideas from God. God is concerned with the love, integrity, and obedience of his children.
Many of God’s children today are concerned with the creature comforts (which I like also) and riches, the big house, expensive car, high paying job, expensive clothes, gold, money in the bank, travel in their retirement years, luxury, many friends, prominence in the community, etc. Are those God’s ways? Where is that in scripture? Why are we admonished (as God’s children) in scripture to not love the world or the things of the world?
I misunderstood Linda with the comment about being certain we have eternal life. I apologize for that. i do agree with your last paragraph though. We have become way too tied to the world. Thanks for coming back.
I would say I’m not a judging person. I would say my weakness of the 4 would be my deeds. I could probably do more in that department.
I haven’t had a lot of time lately to read and comment but hopefully I’LLC be able to stop by more this week. Good thoughts Bill.
Good to hear from you Joseph. I was thinking this morning how long it had been. Hope the new position is working out for you. As for the deeds department, I don’t suspect you are alone. Thanks for the comment.
It depends on how you define “judgmental.” In the world’s eyes, I am. That would be because I take Jesus’ standards for living and make them the guide to my life. So if someone asks me if I support gay marriage and I say no because that’s not God’s way, I’m being judgmental in the eyes of that worldly person. To God, I’m just stating his truth.
I usually don’t “judge” people in the sense of real judgment because I don’t define not approving of someone’s choices as “judging” them. 🙂
I think you speak correctly Jason. Maybe we can call what you are speaking about as discernment? We have a responsibility to be discerning and make decisions based on our biblical foundation. I do think you make a valid point. Thanks.
I unfortunately have judged others. but after reading this passage in James 2:13, it has really helped me to not judge others:
“There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.”
But even with this passage I still have a hard time not to judge others. Great post.
It is one of those “I know better but…” ideas. That verse is convicting. Thanks Dan.
As I’m thinking through this, I would say we are all making judgments constantly, but it’s what we do with them that matters. It’s like any other sin–if I see a woman and think, “She’s really attractive” I haven’t sinned, but if I take it further and lust in my heart, it’s sin. If my judgments keep me from expressing the love and grace of God, then I have crossed the line and need to repent (which is plenty). In that sense, I’m not a judgmental person, but there are plenty of times I judge situations or people poorly too. Thought-provoking stuff, Bill. Thanks.
And your comment is a thought-provoking one jason. You speak truth here and it “sits” uncomfortable with me because it is convicting. I need to be careful with judging situations and people poorly. Thanks for the contribution.
I am definately the judging type. I judge who I want to be around. I judge peoples intentions and motives. I judge who I can trust and who I can not.I judge who is a good person and who is not. i am not a mamby pamby Christian that thinks judging is a bad thing. If you are going to avoid bad situations you need to judge.
As far as judging who is ok with God or not I leave that up to God. that’s his problem. And I’m not too sure Rob Bell isn’t right about that.
I see your point Jeff. I might use a different word than judge when it comes to what you are saying, but i do the same thing. I might call it wisdom or discernment. Thanks for the comment. it was good to hear from you.
Great stuff. I will be judged on my deeds. I’m the king of good intentions but I fail to often act.
Don’t think you stand alone Rob. I know I sometimes have to stand in line as well. Thanks.
Judgement.
I probably am judgemental in a justifiable way with out knowing it but that is just me. However, some of our judgements against others are justifiable and I am sure that God feels the same way. Murderers, pedophiles, gang killings, crimes commited in the passion of the moment, and idolarity. These are the ones that get you the one way trip to hell.
The others, God does talk to us daily to show us our wrong doings and to make correction in our thought process.
Of the 4 areas you mentioned on God’s judgements, He will forgive and rebuke us but not condem us. I think Paul’s statements in Romans covers that quite well.
Best for us to forgive and let God do the judging.
Your last statement rings true Larry. I have to remember I am not God. Thanks for taking the time to come by.
I was looking at your list of choices and I am not sure which one comes closest to my problem area which is my thoughts. My thoughts sometimes lead me astray. It says that if we so much as think a bad deed then we may as well have done it right? Sometimes I am thinking negatively about a person and I suppose I am not doing much to build a bridge between them and me if I am thinking negatively of them.
MS: thanks for visiting my site! i was reminded of the Scripture; “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” our thoughts can get us into deep trouble. Thanks for the input and thanks for visiting.
It is something that I am improving in. I agree with your readers above that discernment is quite important. Judging motives, however, is always bad. I had a friend write an article about judgment on my blog-what we are to judge and what we are not to judge–and how God never calls us to throw off all judgment. Maybe discernment is a better word for the good side of judgment.
I agree with you about the word usage Lori. Thanks for adding your thoughts.