I have found that for many who dabble in christianity, as well as those who are truly seeking to follow Jesus intimately, there is a lack of clarity regarding the concept of judgment.
The reason for this confusion seems to be two fold. First, the bible says all of the following, plus a lot more. Second, our current culture in America is adamantly pressuring everyone to TOLERATE and ACCEPT the proclivities of everyone.
“Judge not, that you be not judged.
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.
Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!
1 Corinthians 11:31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.
Romans 2:1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
Romans 14:10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;
Because the bible speaks of both judging and not judging, christians are falling to the cultural pressure of not judging at all. Today, I would like to encourage you to make a biblical distinction on this incredibly relevant topic. There is a difference between making a right judgment based upon God’s standard and casting judgment as the final judge and jury.
As an example from Exodus 7:14-25, God specifically tells Moses that Pharaoh’s heart is hard and that Pharaoh is unwilling to let the Israelites go out of Egypt. Moses may or may not already perceive this, but what is important is that God is the Primary Initiator of this judgment. God says that Pharaoh has a hard heart. God says that Pharaoh is unwilling to obey God’s command. Moses is now called by God to act upon God’s determination. Moses is commmanded to go, take his staff, and stretch out his hand over the waters of Egypt. God’s judgment is being pronounced upon Egypt thru His servant Moses in this 1st plague. Moses is to be used by God to turn all fresh water into blood for 7 days. That is some serious judgment!
Now, the distinction that followers of Jesus must be encouraged to make is based upon the Prime Initiator. If God initiates disgust and condemnation of specific lifestyle choices or ways of living that God calls sin, then God’s servants are required to and have the absolute right to both think and declare God’s reality of truth.
Christ’s followers are not called to go condemn with judgment from out of one’s own self appointed disgust. God is the ultimate judge of all the earth, and His followers must follow His lead.
In the New Testament we see very clearly that Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners. God’s Word is a person, and that person Jesus Christ is the one who is given all judgment by the Father. His very words will condemn on the last day. But the reality is that the last day has not come, and therefore Jesus Christ’s words are are to be spoken as a warning to all people in order that all who are sinners might repent and be saved. If followers of Jesus Christ do not speak God’s truth, then are we loving like Jesus Christ loved. Jesus Christ loved people so much that the truth He spoke led to His crucifixion.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we must know and be committed to God’s Word, if we are to speak the Truth in Love to individual people that would otherwise die in their sins. “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News.”
Go! Take up your staff! Stretch out the declaration of God’s truth by the hand He has given you!
PS….. You GO in His Authority.
The staff is a symbol of Jesus Christ in you, the Hope of Glory.
The truth you have is Initiated by God, and you are His Chosen Servant to represent Him.
