Have you ever noticed how criticism can be a way of life? In fact, we might say that it is the democratic way of life and an integral part of our society. We have music critics, art critics, drama critics and movies critics. Politicians, athletes, teachers and preachers are critiqued. We critique a new restaurant, the new hair stylus in town, and the new item on the menu. It is the American way. But is it Jesus’ way?
What do we do with Jesus’ words,
"Do not judge and you will not be judged. Luke 6:37
Does Jesus actually mean that we should never make a judgment call? Does He mean that we should never critique someone? Does He mean that we should never assess, evaluate or review something?
If He does, then what do we do with the ad campaign that says, “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk”. Isn’t that a judgment call? Am I not critiquing your decision and your right to do what it is you want to do?
What do we do with Jesus’ statement, "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Luke 6:37
As Christians we often find ourselves in a conundrum.
On the one hand Jesus tells us not to judge and yet on the other hand we are told to make a difference. Doesn’t 1 Thessalonians 5:22 say, Avoid every kind of evil.
Now we know that it’s not OK for me as disciples to steal, but do I have a right to tell you not to steal or to report to the police someone else for stealing for fear of judging them.
Do we even dare make a recommendation of one auto mechanic over another for fear of judging them?
Do we not tell someone that their actions are hurting others for fear of appearing to judge them?
It’s kind of hard to figure it out!
In next weeks passage, Jesus will tell His disciples, "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. 46"Why do you call me, ’Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Luke 6:43-46
But wait a minute, isn’t that a judgment call!
• Who determines what good fruit is and what is bad fruit?
• Who determines who is a good man and who is an evil man?
• Who determines what is good and what is evil?
In a culture where the lines of right and wrong, good and evil have become blurred, how and who determines what is the standard for what is true and what is false.
Like I’ve said, as Christians we often find ourselves in a conundrum, a quagmire and a quandary. In other words, we find ourselves in a sticky predicament.
After all, doesn’t he Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 6:2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?
So what do we do?
• Do we as disciples never make a call between right and wrong?
• Do we abdicate our moral responsibility of what is true?
• Do we never hold each other accountable and
• What does Jesus mean by “do not judge”?
Different words have different meanings and the word Jesus uses here for judge is the Greek word krino. We get our English word criticize from it.
This word carries with it more than a meaning, it carries with it an attitude; a judgmental, negative and condemning attitude.
That’s why Jesus says, Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned, Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37
As Jesus has shown us, as disciples our attitude lies at the very core of everything we do and everything we say. Jesus is not saying that we should not
• observe the evidence,
• evaluate the facts and
• make an informed decision.
• Jesus is not saying we shouldn’t determine right from wrong or to not condemn evil and commend truth.
What Jesus is warning us against is judgmentalism.
A fault-finding, negative attitude that picks at, pulls down, blames and complains about those who do not live up to our expectations.
He’s talking about hidden agendas that look to tear down rather than build up. Schemes that look at the faults in others while ignoring the faults in oneself.
The Apostle Paul hits on this in Rom. 14:10 Why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.
That’s why Jesus said, “Do not judge and do not condemn”
This was the spirit of the Pharisees; that legalistic, religiously arrogant bunch that continually criticized, condemned and put others down; like the leper, the lame man, the man with the limp hand, Levi and his friends, while never looking at themselves.
So what is this “judging” or judgmentalism that Jesus tells us to not do and where does it come from?
Judgmentalism first and foremost is rooted in pride. It’s the attitude that the Pharisee had with the tax collector in the temple. Remember the story, Jesus said, To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Luke 18:9 The arrogant Pharisee said,’God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. Luke 18:11
It’s an arrogant attitude that says, “I’m not as bad as you.” In fact, “I’m better than you!”
It’s an attitude of conceit and smugness that struts around like barnyard rooster.
Judgementalism is rooted in insecurity. A person who puts others down feels like their elevated. It’s a dog eat dog mentality that seeks to get ahead by climbing on the misfortune and the backs of others. It’s an attitude that says, “Do unto others, before they do unto me”.
Judementalism tears down, alienates and builds walls between people. It hinders people from being open to the Lord and hampers people from growing in Christ.
And the Lord says I don’t want you to be that way!
• Now you may be right!
• You may be accurate!
• You may be right on target, but your attitude is in the dumpster.
• Because it’s not only what you say, but how you say it. What attitude you have.
Eph. 4:15 says to speaking the truth in love.
Col. 4:6 says, Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
So if this is not what Jesus wants from us, what does He want from us?
Jesus said,
Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:37-38
As disciples, Jesus wants us to treat others like we would want to be treated. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:31
Do be judgmental or condemning, but forgive as I forgave you. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Col. 3:13
By definition, as disciples, we are called to be disciple-makers. That is what the Great Commission is all about. go and make disciples of all nations, . . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matt 28:19-20
What Jesus is telling us as disciples is to help people, love people and to move them closer to Him.
"Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:39-40
What Jesus is saying here is very straight forward. He’s saying, “An apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”.
If you want your disciples, your kids, those God has entrusted to you or put before you to be loving, kind, considerate, hard-working, compassionate, Christ-centered and Godly, then you need to be that way. Why? Because you produce in others what exists in you.
To say that a disciple is “like his teacher” was Jesus’ way of saying that the lives of his disciples had to model what they desired to see in those they discipled.
What we are in our lives will be what our disciples, our children and those we influence will become.
It’s called taking a personal responsibility and leaving a legacy for those who are following me.
Jesus is not saying that we shouldn’t stand for truth, because He says, Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17
Jesus doesn’t say, don’t do right, because the Word of God says, This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God. 1 John 3:10
Jesus doesn’t say, don’t take a stand against evil because the Bible says, Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 3 John 1:11
Jesus is not saying, don’t evaluate, don’t assess, don’t evaluate or review. In fact, the Scriptures say, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Phil. 4:8
What Jesus is saying is, “Check your attitude!”
41"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? 42How can you say to your brother, ’Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Luke 6:41-42
Jesus is not saying that we shouldn’t take the speck out of our brother’s eye. In fact, to not take a speck out a brother’s eye when in fact there is a speck in there eye would be considered uncaring and unloving.
“I see you have a peck in your eye. It’s probably irritating and really hurts, but I don’t care, so call someone who does.”
What Jesus is saying is don’t be a hypocrite. Don’t be somebody who pretends to have admirable principles, beliefs, or feelings but behaves otherwise.
What Jesus is saying is “You can’t lift someone to a higher level than the one on which you live”.
Now Jesus knew that His disciples, like Peter would do some “bone-head” things and on a regular basis.
The question was not if they’d sin, but when they did, and they would, would they own up to it and make it right.
That’s why we spend so much time talking to you about having courage as a disciple. Any fool can deny, justify, make excuses, or blame others, but it takes guts to own up to your struggles and mistakes. And Jesus is looking for gutsy disciples.
Jesus is also looking for disciples who will hold one another accountable.
Gal. 6:1 says, Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Now some Christians take this way to far.
Their halos are on so tight they give others a headache.
The Scriptures say:
1. If a brother or sister is caught in a sin- This is for the family of God, disciples of Jesus, who have received the Holy Spirit and have had their eyes open to His way and His will.
2. you who are spiritual should restore him gently- The goal is not to judge or to condemn them, but to refurbish, and repair with the goal of restablishing, restoring and reinstating them.
3 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ- The purpose is to walk along side our brother and sister. To help carry their burden so they can back on their feet.
So instead of a critically judging and condemning attitude, here are the attitudes the Lord wants us to have:
Don’t hate, but Love one another- John 13:34
Don’t be uncommitted, but Be devoted to one another in brotherly love- Romans 12:10
Don’t dishonor, but Honor one another above yourselves- Romans 12:10
• Don’t live in discord, but Live in harmony with one another- Romans 12:16
• Stop passing judgment on one another- Romans 14:13
• Accept one another- Romans 15:7
• Instruct one another- Romans 15:14
• Serve one another in love- Gal 5:13
• Don’t be rude, but Be kind and compassionate to one another- Eph. 4:32
• Don’t be unforgiving, but Forgive one another- Eph. 4:32
• Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ- Eph. 5:22
• Don’t be a burden, but Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Col. 3:13
• Admonish one another with all wisdom- Col. 3:16
• Encourage one another daily- Heb 3:13
• Do not slander one another- James 4:11
• Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling-
1 Peter 4:9
• Don’t judge, but Have humility toward one another
1 Peter 5:5
And my favorite:
• Greet one another with a holy kiss. 1 Cor. 16:20
You know the Bible tells us in 1 Cor. 5: 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are we not to judge those inside?
The sad reality is that the church in America has become more known for what its against, than what its for.
The church in America has spent a huge amount of energy telling people who don’t know the Lord why they are bad or evil for not following His ways.
But what the Lord wants us to do is to spend our time and energy doing this:
Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35
