Should We Judge Our Brother?
70Who has the authority to judge?
Passing Judgement
We are all guilty of sin and at one time or another, felt compelled to Judge. We have taken it upon ourselves to be Judge and Jury in someone else's life....by passing judgement.
So...why do we feel compelled to judge? If one understood the meaning behind or the consequences of placing judgement the attitude might change/differ.
To judge someone is to make a decision, form an opinion objectively, authoritivly in matters effecting action, a conclusion to precede as judge. The judgement has been made and the sentence has been handed down.
Why have we been brought to a place of judgement. How is it that our actions have an effect on us? How did we become a part of this equasion? Why do we even judge in the first place? I would like to give an example as to why we judge.
Example; If someone demands money from another and it is not rightfully their's and a relationship is compromized, would'nt it be safe to say that there may be a deep rooted issue regarding their love for money? If someone hates or despises you then is it safe to say that these emotions are instilled in "that" person to begin with? If someone is jealous of you, would it be safe to say they may have a jealous nature? If we accuse we must have equal defeciencies or we would take no part in it. Therefore we are just as guilty.
So how is it that judgement is a sin? First of all when we judge, we create/inflict/promote harm on another, therefore we are not to judge, accuse, condemn or pass judgement. Being judgemental creates hostility, anger, resentment. After all we would'nt promote/be in agreement with/facilitate such emotions if these defiencies didn't begin in us. This is why God said Matthew 7:1 "Judge not lest ye be judged".
Discernment
Discernment needs to replace judgement because we are to have/be no part of judgement. Discernment means; The facualty of being able to make critical distinctions and acheive a "balanced" viewpoint. Discernment carries no fault or blame, no anger or hostility, no hatred or vengence...no judgement. The attitude of discernment is far from the attitude of which judgement comes.
Judging is a sin. It is the result of sin. If sin hadn't begun in us we would not carry this judgement or promote it/put into action. Judgement causes devision. It's intentions are evil.
I would like to share a few scripture's in the bible with you regarding judgement;
Deuteronomy 16"18 "You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which the Lord your God gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgement".
Romans 2:1 & 3 "Therefore you are inexcusible, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself, for you who judge practice the same things". And 3 "And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgement of God?".
Romans 14:13 "Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way".
Matthew 5:22 "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother, without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgement. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'you fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
Matthew 7:2 & 3 "Judge not that you be not judged, for with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you". And 3 "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?".
Colossians 2:16 "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ".
Psalm 75:7 "But God is the judge; He puts down one, and exalts another".
James 2:13 "For judgement is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement".
Hebrews 4:12 & 13 "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart". And 13 "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account".
2 Corinthians 5:10 & 11 "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may recieve the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad". And 11 "Knowing therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences".
Let us change our ways Oh Lord, and be more like you! Amen and Amen!!!
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We all could stand a spiritual awakening and a little more faith in our Father and ourselves. It's never too late to right a wrong. Damages are repairable when one hungers for it. If one truly knows God he will know anythings possible. If one truly has discernment one will seek after the truth. How many times could we have admitted we're only human/in the flesh and by doing so we set an example for someone else and so on. To let someone know that nothing is more powerful than love and we have at the very least planted a seed. The rest is up to God. It takes one who thinks above it to correct/remove/destroy its grip. Pride will cripple a relationship. It will divide and fall, but if one truly has a Christlike heart, love will prevail and the old will be washed away, things will soften and come to light, for in God ALL things are possible! I love you brother!!!
I was just thinking today, about how there is no room for having judgement against another. Sin is sin, and it seems more times than not...the very thing we are against that others do. When we think hard about it, we have been guilty ourselves somewhere in our past. Thank God, He made a way of forgiveness for us all:) Great hub!
Our LORD is the great physician. He can heal all. But sin leaves a scar, a reminder of things done so that we will be able to change or be able to grow. I have scars all over and I imagine that I have inflicted many on others. That is where forgiveness comes in. Can you imagine the hurts inflicted by Paul (as Saul)? Yet the brethren loved and forgave him. He himself was damaged by the past because he had hurt others in his misplaced zeal. He said forgetting the things behind but all the while he remembered enough to let it grow him. Of course damages are repairable but just like with Paul when he showed up on the Christian's doorstep, it took a minute to convince them that he was truly changed. They eased into the idea. God made it possible. Love never fails but opportunities for love are thrown away all the time.
voted up & beautiful! "judge not..." but it's still hard. That's why we need to walk with Him daily to soften our hearts and make us more like Him.
The primary stipulation given for Christians regarding judging is that we are not to proclaim our own judgements based on our opinions but to pronounce the judgements of God based on truth. Jesus serves as the best example in this manner. "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (John 5:30)
Here Jesus confirms that all true judgement comes from God alone, but He also sets forth the criteria for what constitutes just judgements. Jesus says that because He places His will in subjection to God the Father, He is able to hear God's words and be sent by God to pronounce His judgements. Again in John 8:15-16 Jesus asserts that only judgements that come from God are true, "Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me."
This is the pattern for how we are commanded to judge righteously, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." (John 7:24). We must have our will in subjection to God's which enables us to know God's words and allows us to be sent by God to others with His message.
Scripture also shows that God has given us His Spirit to specifically fulfill these purposes in man (among other things), thereby allowing righteous judgements to be pronounced by man. I voted-up on your HUB!!! GREAT riting!!!! Sorry I haven't been around but this will change. I have missed you!!!! When you get a chance, come visit me. Much Love.....
Blessings heart4theword! We are all guilty of sin. It's one thing to sin, but to cast it upon our brother is sinful! Amen!
Blessings brother nobody! Jesus took the scars to the cross. He bore them with His life. They no longer have to be upon us except to learn by them. I believe if we use our past experiences to grow then it is good that we had them. We were blessed by them. Without them we would not know the meaning of forgiveness or love for one another or how to have a humble heart. Hugs brother!
You are a delight samson1! I love your heart! It is a struggle not to judge. It's difficult to live in the flesh for satan is on the prowl waiting to devour. Thank God for His amazing love that can move mountains and clear the path before us! Amen!
Good to hear from you drpastorcarlotta! You should write a hub on rightous judgement. I would love to read! You make some excellent points and thank you for clarifying some matters regarding judgement. Miss you and much much love to you as well!
I liked how you distinguished between judgment and discernment. and clarifying that discernment "carries no fault or blame, no anger or hostility, no hatred or vengeance...no judgment"
It is easy to confuse the two or throw out the discernment along with the judgment.
Thank you Tamarajo! Discernment carries hope, faith, strength, desire for good, accomplishment, growth, peace, love, joy, concern, betterment and distinguishes the difference between right and wrong/good and evil. It is sound judgement and rightous judgement whereas judgement/fault finding denies one of all these things and is sinful in nature and we are not to take part in it. Blessings to you and thank you!
This is wisdom, sis ~ you stated it so well: "Discernment...distinguishes the difference between right and wrong/good and evil. It is sound judgement and rightous judgement." The saints will judge the world and even angels (1 Cor 6:2-3). God's Spirit gives us discernment and love ~ being shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves (Mat 16:10). Bless you!!
Thank you sis! God has really been pouring the hubs right out of me. I just finished another. I feel God is trying to draw us away from evil and into His abundant love. To really know Him and to remove the shackles that bind. To bring us out of bondage! Amen! Bless you too!!!
Well said. I liked your points about discernment. It is very different than judging. Thank you for this insightful article.
Thank you lambservant...we should try discerment more often for it is quite different and more rewarding and could take some getting used to. Blessings!
Whether or not it is right, we still tend to judge, and not necessarily always fairly either.
Brother Dave.
We do have the tendency to judge but we need to use sound and rightous judgement, which is dicernment, to carefully promote solutions/betterment. To act/react with love and sincerity. One may percieve life as being unfair/unjust therefore one needs to rid oneself of the selfish nature and seek after the truth in all things for the truth will set us free. Jesus says "I am the way, the truth and the life". The truth can only be found in Him. In Him healing begins and ends. God bless you Brother Dave!
Hi this hub was a really good read. On the whole I try not to judge people too much because we all have a different way of doing things and we all have different values. However if I said that i had never judged anyone I would be lying because i think sometimes it is human nature to do so. Having had so much to deal with since I was a very small girl I think that this has given me the ability to empathise somewhat.I think there are many who will judge on something they may have done ,forgetting that they did the very same a couple of weeks ago. I do not like narrowmindness and one very true proverb is 'Do not judge a book by it's cover!!It is not right that we judge people too much unless they are very bad to the extreme!! Sadly there are many of these in today's society. This hub was definitly thought provoking and was a good read, thank you for sharing.Keep them coming and take care.
Thank you Eiddwen, I agree with you. Like you said, we all have to learn at our own pace and we all have different experiances. If someone has never experienced, they may not know. When we judge we may not see the whole picture therfore we are judging blindly. Only God knows if that person is actually guilty of the crime they are being accused of. God has His own timing in working in peoples lives. He knows our hearts and that is really all that matters. I believe by excepting that, we learn how to forgive. Thank you so much for stopping by and giving good advice! Blessings!!!
great
Thankfully the good ideas these tips
Thank you reemhmam, there is so much judgement going on in the world that one becomes decieved/blind to it/taken in/tempted. It seems to be a major charactor flaw in mortal man/in the flesh. Gossip is not of God and is sinful. One needs to listen to God and not the words of another. One can say they love their brother and in the same breath find/seek out fault in him, judging him unrightously. Finding/seeking fault is judging. Some hide behind christianity and are decieved/mislead by satan. God's eyes are wide open to decievers. They will not escape His judgement. Let us keep our mouths shut and our hearts pure and our eyes upon Him...Amen!!!
no body 20 months ago
This is a great hub, sister. Judging is so easy because the things one sees are "so clear" to him at the time. All too often though, as time moves on and things come to light, things become even clearer and positions change. The problem with that is that the damage is already done. Trusts have been broken and fellowship suffers. Not only that but if the person is not saved a stumbling block can be set before him and he may say that "if THAT is Christianity, I want nothing to do with it." Decernment comes from God, but when one states things in anger or out of partial truth or premise, it is of the flesh, not God. A statement made in the flesh is at best a stab in the dark and at worst an accusation made in error, or even to hurt. Such things are always used of Satan to his advantage. Thank you for another great hub. I love you, Bob.