“Judge Not, that ye be not Judged…” (Matthew  7:1)

We all are very familiar with this scripture-especially in today’s religious climate of being ‘anti-judgmental.’ It is almost a crime in the church to judge anything or anyone.  Even in the world, people who have NEVER opened the bible or attended church…who don’t even believe in God-quote this scripture…

And they ALL do so OUT OF CONTEXT.

I find that this is one of the most misinterpreted, yet overly quoted verses in the bible.  Most of the time, it is quoted when one’s life is brought to scrutiny and careful criticism. Or the actions of another.  Because of the very nature of most people, they don’t like to be judged.  They don’t want folks to know their issues, their sins, their flaws or shortcomings.

So they use this scripture (Im mostly referring to church folks right now) to justify not judging sin…which is the FIRST step in discerning it.  This fosters an unhealthy, sinful fear of judging (that God does NOT condone).  Of judging others, or even THEMSELVES!

I have figured out that the reason MOST people are afraid of judging others or refrain from doing so is NOT because they are aware of their own sin…but b/c they are hiding from their own sin!  Most people are terrified of coming clean and being real with themselves…so they can’t possibly be real with another!

So because everyone is comfortable in their shields and walls of denial, EVERYONE now automatically puts up this defense of ‘we are not to judge anyone….’ to justify not dealing with sin.

They turn around and make Matthew 7:1 a doctrinal statement, instead of reading it in its proper context and really getting what it is saying.

What that scripture is saying is that if we judge, we need to be prepared to be judged.  NOT run from it, or be afraid of it.  This scripture is NOT to be used as a blanket statement that automatically protects people from being judged.

In 1 Corinthians 6, the Lord tells us that we are going to judge angels and even the world.

1 Corinthians 6:3-5

Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Do you know what that means?

That means that if we’re going to be judgers of angels and the world in the future, then how much MORE should we judge things in THIS life NOW????

That means we are to judge even MORE things, circumstances and (YES) people IN THIS LIFE!

The religious devil has done a crafty job of making many people believe that it is a sin to judge, when, in fact, the Lord says THOSE WHO ARE SAVED and SPIRITUAL judges ALL things. (1 Corinthians 2:15)

God has admonished those who are saved that they are going to judge angels.

So it is NOT a sin to judge.

The Greek word used for ‘judge’ in 1 Corinthians 6:3 is ‘krinō,’ which means, ‘tobe of opinion, deem; to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong; to approve, esteem, to prefer.’

To judge then means to make a proper or correct assessment (of either oneself or another) that something (or someone) was right or wrong in a matter.

When we confess our sin, we are, in essence, making a judgment…against ourselves.

When someone commits a crime and confesses to it, they go before a court and a judge…NOT to be judged, but to receive the proper punishment for said crime.  Since the person has already admitted guilt, all they can do is throw themselves upon the mercy of the court.  No judging of evidence, no pondering of the facts, no CSI is needed.  They have confessed…

Well, when we confess our sin, we are honest with God, ourselves and others.  Once we do that, NO ONE can judge us, for we have judged OURSELVES and found ourselves guilty.

Then when we realized we have sinned, then we know to take it to God and confess to Him….and ask for forgiveness, repent.

Throw ourselves upon HIS MERCY!  Go before HIS MERCY SEAT!

That is the ONLY way we can obtain grace when its needed.

The self (or public) pronouncement of sin is not an indictment of death.  Unless you don’t repent.  Unless you don’t confess it.  Unless you continue to sweep sin under the rug and act like its not there, or it doesn’t exist.

I wrote an article a week or so ago about God exposing our sins.

I know most is not comfortable with this topic.  But it is in the darkness of hiding sin that the enemy is allowed  free access into our lives, into our very souls…as well as those around us.

It is why whole congregations are led by openly gay pastors and pedophiles.  It is why whole flocks are demonized instead of delivered…it is why children of unrepentant parents invariably suffer because of the choices of their parents.  It is why spouses have to carry the burden of wayward husbands and wives who won’t repent of their sin.

NO one wants to repent and come clean anymore.  No one wants to be honest about where they are.  So whole houses are subverted and corrupted.

To Judge…Or NOT To Judge????

THAT IS the QUESTION!!!