Matthew 7:1-5
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Judge Not.
It is one of the few lessons of the New Testament that stays true throughout the entire Bible. As humans, we are called, commanded and compelled not to judge our fellow humans (Luke 6, John 8, John 12, 1 Corinthians 4)
But what is it to judge? Well in English judging is having or displaying an excessively critical point of view "I don't like to sound judgmental, but it was a big mistake."
The ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions.
An opinion or conclusion
Seems like a daunting task now doesn't it?
A Judgement is basically the same thing as an opinion, a thought, it's when you look at something and deem it something.
"Thats car is Yellow"
"I don't like Onions"
These are all judgments.
Biblically lets look at James 4
James 4:11
Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
Any who speaks against their brother is judging him, and the Law. And when one judges the law they are not keeping it, but Judging it as well.
The Law was given to the Jewish people by God, for one to sit Judgement on the law one then has to judge the one who gave it.
To say what is or is not sin for a fellow Christian is, both by English definition and Biblical definition not a Christians place to say.
By the new Covenant of Jesus Christ found in "The law of Agape" (Matt 22, Mark 12, Luke 10) and the commandments not to judge, it is never the place of a follower of Christ to look for or judge the errors of other people (especially those outside the faith)
Many will complain, saying "To not stand against something is to be for it"
This is strangely Biblical (Mark 9) "whoever is not against us is for us" however done so in a backward manner.
However one does not have to take a position to stand.
One does not stand FOR someone else's decision, It is not their decision to approve.
One does not stand AGAINST someone else's decision, it is not their decision to dis-aprove.
Those judging the decision do not know the heart of the one making the decision, the feelings behind the action nor the outcome of the action. They do not know what, when and where God will or will not forgive, when God grants or takes away Gods blessings.
To Judge them is to Judge God's creation, something which one is a part of and not above, to judge Gods reaction, Gods feelings, Gods grace is to either claim to be God or to be judging God.
1 Corinthians 13
1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Love your neighbor as yourself
I have often heard "Love the sinner Hate the sin" this is the second most misquoted thing I have heard next to "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" Neither of which are from the Bible.
To hate what someone is, or what they do, or anything about them is to hate them. To hate a flaw in their existence, and thus to hate a flaw in the heavenly creator.
One cannot look upon a man and say "Brother I love you but I hate your existance"
How can you love someone yet hate their actions? How can there ever be love when they have been marred by that hate?
Love is not approval, love is not permission, love is not saying "do this or do that" Love simply IS.
This is a very tough decision to make, because it not only compels a Christian not to judge wheather something like lieing, stealing, murder or yes, even homosexuality is right or wrong, but simply love them.
People don't even aknowledge how difficult this one lesson that Christ gives is. To have all the law, all the rules fall into the one simple rule of Love.
Can you even imagine? To look at someone who killed your Mother, Best friend, Lover and say. "I forgive you and I love you" Can you truly imagine when someone is trying to rape you to turn the other cheek? To say "I'd rather be harmed then harm you" "I'd rather be defiled then have you sin"
Paul outlines what love is in 1 Cor 13, speaking that love and works out of love are greater then hope and faith.
And important thought there.
Faith, so even one's faith in the Bible, or faith in what they believe must fall short, become the second man to love.
Love and Non-judgement should stand at the forefront of all Christian acts.
Any act, motion, or thought outside of these bounds would be an Anti-Christ like act, and in accordance to Paul whom states either one is a Christian and acts through Christ or not, then all those who judge Homosexuals are not bad Christians, simply, they are not Christians at all.
Share Wisdom
Does all this mean never correct? Never warn? Never preserve, never teach?
No.
Proverbs 9 teaches us here the way of the wise.
The house of Wisdom is well prepared, it is ready for argument and guests, invites readily discussion.
One should not correct those who do not believe, for they will continue with their disbelief.
And to rebuke a wise man they will love you.
Giving instruction will only increase their wisdom.
Those who are foolish have but one lesson, and no understanding. So there is a difference between Judgement and a Sharing of ideas and opinions. A Close-mindedness to those who are open-minded.
