#WednesdayWisdom #014: CHRISTIANS: Stop Being Afraid to Judge Others According to God’s Principles and Truths

Last week, I posted a Facebook article about gospel singer, Israel Houghton’s, divorce from his wife of 20 years. I commented about my disappointment that he didn’t fight hard enough to save his marriage. I’m not going to reiterate my position (you can read my comments and the replies here).

I took some shots for my strong tone and position. One woman swung-it-this-way…and came for me. That’s fine. I’m a grown man. I encourage descent. One descenting theme I heard from several people was:

“I can’t judge this man.”
“I am not going to judge anyone.”

GET BEHIND ME SATAN!!!! You-za liar and yo breath stink!!!

As a Christian, the bible expressly tells us to judge others. So let me ‘dead’ this misnomer that we “can’t judge anyone”. The confusion lies in the verse that says, “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” (Matthew 7:1 KJV). At first glance, it looks like it’s telling you not to judge others. But with further examination, it’s actually saying…IF you judge someone, then you too will be judged by the same standard you judge others…so be careful when you judge.

But the directive that expressly tells Christians to judge is,

“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. But considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments” (1 Corinthians 2:14-15 NIV).

Meaning…if you are not a Christian, then you don’t have the Spirit of God. And you don’t understand spiritual principles and truths of God. It’s foolishness to you. That’s because…that understanding, is only given by God…to the people who have the Spirit of God. However, if you are a Christian, then you have the Spirit of God. And you have been given understanding about His spiritual principles and truths. And you are able to judge (i.e., discern) all things based on those spiritual principles and truths. But those without the Spirit of God cannot judge (i.e., discern) the ways of Christians because they don’t understand the spiritual principles and truths by which they are governed. They are foolishness to them.

This is a simplified explanation of a complex spiritual principle. There are some theological intricacies that this summary doesn’t explain, like: the meaning of “all things” and the “understanding” Christians actually receive from God. But don’t get distracted. Making “judgments” is not about the ‘pronouncement of judgment’ like a judge in a courtroom, but about the principles and truths you use to discern one’s actions.

#WednesdayWisdom

CHRISTIANS: Stop being afraid to judge others according to God’s principles and truths. It’s your spiritual responsibility…for-God-sake.

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