Judge NOT!

The Label Game

Ground rules:  Find someone who is different…They may look different, sound different or think different.  This game is effective if someone has a mark on his/her past record – even if it is over and done with, fully forgiven and none of your business

      

Here is how you play the game – “Let’s Label”

Step 1:  Find something you don’t like about a person

Step 2:  Examine the external

Step 3:  Form negative and critical opinions

Step 4:  Jump to several inaccurate conclusions

Step 5:  Mentally stick a label on the person in question

Step 6:  Freely share all findings with others

The other name for this game is Judging.  What is so bad about judging?  After all, how would anyone be able to tell someone else they are wrong if we do not make judgments about their behavior?  I’ve often wondered how we balance the teaching of God’s Word that stresses the points of godly living without being the judge of whether a person is right with God or not. Jesus made it clear in his sermon to the thousands at the base of a mountain one day that judging would be detrimental to those who judge.  I love the way the Message Bible describes what Jesus was saying in Matthew 7:1-5, “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.”

Remember, our job is not to be judge, but rather to be a people who are called out to share the Good News of Jesus.  Jesus told his disciples to be teachers, not judgers.  Matthew 28:20 gives the description of what Christians are supposed to do:  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you….” (NLT)  If each of us sticks to the Holy Word of God, we will not go wrong. 

The word judging comes from the Greek word “krino” which means, “to separate”. In the ancient courtrooms a judge would separate the facts of a case and then discern whether what was presented had enough evidence to make a judgment of guilty of innocence.

Jesus is not telling us to stop being a people of discernment.  As a matter of fact, discernment is a spiritual gift.  1^st Corinthians 12:10 the Apostle Paul declares we are given a variety of gifts to aid in the work of Jesus’ church.  Paul says, “He [Spirit] gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit.”  The point of this passage is to determine whether or not the teaching is from the Word of God. 

The key point is to remember that we do not set ourselves up to be the judge and jury.  Don’t seek to cultivate a spirit of condemning and rejecting of others because you have a different opinion.  Romans 14:10-13 makes it clear what our roles and responsibilities are as believers in Jesus.  “So why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian? Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow to me and every tongue will confess allegiance to God.’ ”  Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God.  So don’t condemn each other anymore. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not put an obstacle in another Christian’s path.”

It is amazing how many times I have heard preachers condemn others about their faithfulness to God or to the church.  Is it possible we’ve set up a standard of faithfulness that God never did?  Is it possible that we are judged by how often we attend Sunday night and Wednesday night gatherings or revivals?  Is it possible that we are judged based on the version of the bible one chooses to use?  Is it possible that 1^st Corinthians 4:4-5 is ignore “So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as to whether or not someone is faithful. When the Lord comes, he will bring our deepest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. And then God will give to everyone whatever praise is due.”  (NLT)

When we seek God’s Word and allow the Spirit to lead us in our attitude, study and service to others, then our time is taken up by teaching the model of Jesus rather than the model of ones opinionated doctrine.  Our responsibility is to teach, period.  Let God do God’s job!

Remember, Be God Controlled!

Brian