Judge Not...

The judgement spoken of in Matthew 7 pertains to hypocritical judgement and the spirit of the judgement. However, righteous judgement is implored and commanded of throughout the Holy Bible. I loathe the consistent misinterpretation of Matthew 7 to apply to all forms of judgement, the harm it has caused to Christianity and how it is seemingly one of the few verses that Christians (and non-Christians alike) seem to have memorized.

"Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?" - 1 Corinthians 6:2-3​

"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." - John 7:24​

 

The test for false prophets and antichrists is pretty simple. It's found in I John 4 and it involves acknowledgement of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God. "Spirits" that refuse to acknowledge this are anti-christ, or false prophets.

Chiming in to voice your opinion on a doctoral matter following a sermon, aside from being just plain rude, is exactly the kind of judgement and discernment that Jesus is talking about in Matthew. It smacks of arrogance, and is certainly not consistent with the way the scripture teaches us to approach such matters. The pastor may have been mistaken, but just because his error upset you, or didn't conform to your beliefs doesn't make him subject to your opinion. Had you approached him privately and asked to discuss what he said, you might have gotten a different response. At that point, he could have clarified his statement for you, and you could have respectfully offered your disagreement with him. Keep in mind that no one in this life is ever going to reach either sinless or doctrinal perfection, including pastors, and you. We're saved by grace and as receivers of it in abundance, we should also give our fair share of it.

 

1corinthians 5:
1It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 2And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

Apparently there is a method of judging, here Paul judged. I think it has to do with attitude of heart, and reasons for judging. It is wrong to judge with an I do better then that, I'm better or more spiritual attitude. It must be recognized that we all mess up, and we are no better then the person being judged, they are off track right now, and need prayer and a loving attitude from us.

 

As a rule I would tend to agree with this. If the Pastor presented sin in the way it has been communicated in the op then what we have is passive agreement with these types of sins. They should never be overlooked or accepted as the norm. As to how to address the Pastor, I would say you have wasted your time. Find another church where biblical values wil be tuaght lifted up and encouraged rather than set aside. Never waste breath on scorners.

 

Baptist Only Forum, stymie.

 

To answer the question, we are to interpret the verse in its context.

 

Actaully the passage continues and states about the mote and beam. Take the beam out of your own eye AND THEN YOU SHALL SEE CLEARLY to take the mote (splinter) out of your brothers. As you can see we ARE to judge but only after we have first judged ourselves in like manner as we will judge them.

We are to do a double check on ourselves (in life, heart, knowledge) and get THAT right first, BEFORE we go and address anothers imperfection or misunderstandings. (and of course sin itself).

Notice it states that with what judgement you give, it shall be done so equally to you. Therefore watch the manner and intent of which you judge.

 

I agree. But we need to remember that Jesus was addresing lost people not Christians. What they needd was salvation in Christ and that would be the beam they needed to take care of.

 

Actaully He was addressing His message at both sets of people. He was speaking specifically to the believers. That aside...

You are interposing salvation into the context . Though the imagery can be applied that is not the context in which Jesus was addressing believers and their judging of others. Remember, Jesus was giving the Sermon on the Mount or also understood as the Kingdom principles in which they (and we) as Gods peopls are to live both physically and spiritually.

The sermon on the mount was to believers and how they should live.