Who Are You To Judge Your Neighbor?
I.
Introduction
a.
This year we want to help you get more rooted in Christ and grow
closer together. One way we are doing
that is through these messages, as we look at a question from the Bible.
II.
Body
a.
Read James 4:12 – “There is
only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?”
a.
Tonight’s question is: Who are you to judge your neighbor?
b.
The idea of being judgmental is something that has been embraced by
our American culture, and this idea that the Bible says not to judge is thrown
into Christian’s faces all the time.
c.
When it is, the thought is that being judgmental is saying
something is wrong, usually having to do with some social issue: abortion, gay
marriage, legalization or use of drugs, premarital sex, etc…
d.
But is this what the Bible says or not? If it is, then we as Christians need to
radically change how we act, what we say, and how we treat others in our
world. If it isn’t, then what is
actually saying.
b.
Judgment in context
a.
The bible has a lot to say about judgment, and just like any
Biblical teaching it is important for us to look both at the context of the
verse being used and then also comparing it to the rest of scripture. If we don’t we can get a skewed view of what
God is saying. So let us define the word
judge and then look at what the Bible says.
b.
Definition
i.
Judge or judgment doesn’t mean saying something is wrong, but rather
to point out something as wrong and then giving a punishment for that wrong.
c.
Judges are to judge for God
i.
We know from the Bible that God doesn’t have a problem with judges,
he allows Moses to act as judge, Moses then chooses others to help him in this,
throughout the time of Israel they had people who acted as judges. These judges were to look at the laws God
gave, say whether the person was guilty of doing wrong, and then give them a
punishment that was established by God.
In this case they acted as a fill-in for God.
ii.
James 4:12 gives us this idea, that God determines right and wrong,
God passes judgment on those who do wrong, assigning their punishment. If we are judging we are stepping into God’s
spot.
iii.
This means when we judge we are saying this is what God has said is
wrong, and this is what you deserve for breaking that law. If we make up what we think is right or wrong
(using preference rather than God’s law found in the Bible *don’t pet a cat,
they are despicable creatures*) we are lying about what God has said, thus we
are sinning. If we make up a punishment
then we are laying about what God has said.
d.
Judges are to judge accurately
i.
Galatians 2:6 – “As for those who seemed to be important—whatever
they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external
appearance…”
a.
This means if we are judging we can’t judge the surface, but by
what actually happened. We often assume
we know, but too often we are wrong.
ii.
Leviticus 19:15 – “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality
to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.”
a.
This means if we are judging we have to do it fairly, not giving
leniency because a person has money or is poor, not because they have the right
name or play the right sport or are popular or have a certain skin color or a
certain gender, everyone must be treated fairly
e.
Judges are accountable for their own lifestyle
i.
Matthew 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.”
ii.
The first verse of this is the one often quoted to show Christians
shouldn’t judge, and it demonstrates why context is so important. The next verse clarifies, it isn’t about not
judging but judging when you are sinning the same way.
iii.
If you are sinning and you say someone is wrong, give them a
punishment, then you will receive the same punishment.
iv.
This doesn’t mean 100% correspondence on the type of sin. I could condemn someone for smoking because
it harms their body, yet if I am neglecting mine throw unhealthy eating or lack
of exercise, I too am hurting my body and will be judging the same way I have
judged that person.
v.
The main idea is, work on your own life before you start trying to
fix other people’s lives.
f.
Judgment is to be used to bring about repentance
i.
In 1st Corinthians 5 Paul (the writer of the book) tells
a church that they need to stop celebrating a man who is sleeping with his
step-mom. They had shown their love to
him, supporting his decision, not judging him for his lifestyle. Just like our world thinks we should do. He advises them to kick the guy out, but not
with the intent of keeping him away from God but rather to draw him back to God
and to get out of the sin. The very last
part of the section says “What business is it of mine to judge those outside
the church? Are you not to judge those
on the inside? God will judge those
outside.” – This is why looking at all of scripture is important, you get the
full picture.
ii.
Judgment is something we are asked to do, if the person is a
believer, but we are to leave those outside the faith to God’s judgment.
iii.
When we do judge someone in the church, it isn’t to make them go
away, but rather to bring them back into a right relationship with God
III.
Conclusion
a.
So, to sum up what we have learned
a.
Judgment isn’t saying something is wrong, but punishing someone for
doing wrong
b.
Judgment starts with the Lawgiver and his laws, not us and ours
c.
Judgment should only be done if we have all the information
d.
Judgment should be fair every time
e.
Judgment starts with our own heart
f.
Judgment shouldn’t be passed if we are doing the same sort of thing
g.
Judgment should only be done by us toward those claiming salvation
h.
Judgment should be done in order to grow others close to God
b.
Ask forgiveness from those whom you have judged incorrectly
c.
Ask God forgiveness for judging incorrectly
d.
Commit to not judging others, but instead showing them love
No comments:
Post a Comment