Who Am I To Judge?

Biblegems #122

Question: Is it biblically correct when people say, ‘It’s not our place to judge others, only God should judge’ — or are there times when it is right for us to judge others?

        

 To “judge” in English carries a variety of meanings. Usually we mean passing judgment, determining right from wrong. This is also the way “judge” is typically used in the Bible:

Genesis 16:5 “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.”

The Hebrew word Sarai uses for “judge” is “qal,” which means to “act as law-giver, judge, governor (giving law, deciding controversies and executing law, civil, religious, political, social…”

The New Testament Greek equivalent is “krinw:”

         Matt. 7:1-2 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  

People often take this saying in Matthew out of context when they say, ‘You have no right to judge me.’ But “Do not judge” means in this context, “don’t be judgmental,” because one day we will want God to show mercy toward us:

         1 Pet. 4:5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

The truth is, it is absolutely biblical and necessary for people to judge right and wrong behavior in others.  It is not, however, always appropriate for us to pass judgment:

         Rom. 14:4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Accurately judging between right and wrong requires a baseline to judge by. Believers in Jesus Christ operate on the basis of biblical teaching. The world outside of Christ operates on a much different set of values:

         1 Cor. 5:12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?

1 Cor. 6:2, 5 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? …I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?

The ability to judge between right and wrong sets humanity apart from animals. The right to exercise judgment as vengeance belongs to God (Dt. 32:35; Rom. 12:19). And the ability to pass judgment for salvation and eternal damnation is reserved for God alone (Ja. 4:12). God has given humanity a conscience, His Word and His Son to show us right from wrong. He has given believers His Holy Spirit who enables us to judge between righteousness and sinfulness. Exercising godly judgment now under the authority and guidance of God’s Word illuminated by the Holy Spirit trains us for that day when we will reign with Jesus, exercising judgment:

         Rev. 20:4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge.

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Homosexuality—3: Who Am I To Judge?

Biblegems # 104

Question: I don't want to think that God would fault me for associating with people who are homosexual because God wants us to love everyone. Who am I to judge?

This is the third and final installment on this series dealing with homosexuality, focusing this time on how God would have His people interact with those who have adopted a homosexual lifestyle. The answer to this begins with the question, “who am I to judge?”

Usually, what we mean by that question is “who am I to condemn?” Listen to what Jesus taught about that:

         John 3:17-18 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

According to Jesus, then, the entire human race is already condemned. Humanity is contaminated by sin—we are born into it, like an AIDS baby is born into a deadly disease. The Bible puts it this way:

         Rom. 5:12 …sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—

The sins we choose to commit—lying, adultery, homosexuality, etc.—come from the sin nature we have inherited from our ancestors. We are all born into an environment of sin, of disobedience to God, and of a slavish desire to satisfy our animal desires and determine our own path through life. As Jesus said,

         John 3:19-20 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

But—you ask—why should we be condemned for a sin nature we inherited? It’s not fair!

You’re right, it’s not fair, any more than a baby condemned to die of AIDS because of a parent’s choice is fair. In fact it’s outrageous! And if you could do something to rescue that baby, to save that baby from the consequences of a parent’s sinful choice, would you not do it? Of course you would!

This is precisely what God has done in sending His Son Jesus to die in our place, taking the disease of our sin upon Himself and offering the transfusion of His life into ours for our salvation. You have heard the verse and seen the reference at baseball and football stadiums every year:

         John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

No, it is not our place to condemn those who choose a life of sin, whether homosexuality or stealing or whatever. Sin cuts us off from God, and God IS Life. Apart from life in Jesus, we are all condemned (John 14:6). But for us who have put their faith in Jesus and have been vaccinated against the effects of sin, who have been given the free gift of eternal life, our role is to get this Good News out to the rest of humanity.

One final thought: for those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, yet choose to maintain a lifestyle that belongs to the old sinful nature…

         Rom. 6:1-2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?