Monday, December 20, 2010

Against the Wind

“Judge not, that you be not judged. “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (Matthew 7:01-02, NKJV).

Besides John 3:16, Matthew 7:1 is one of the best known verses in the Bible, and for all the wrong reasons. It is usually thrown up in a Christian's face to support some flavor of accusation that he or she is a Bible-thumping hypocrite. While it is possible that the accused may be entirely or partially guilty as charged, using verse 1 as a proof text demonstrates Scriptural ignorance on the part of the accuser. That usually doesn't matter though, because what the accuser wants is typically to continue in some preferred sin without some holier-than-thou Christian pronouncing doom from his high horse. Reasoned Biblical dialogue in these instances is usually not a priority. The goal is self-justification via the age-old school yard strategy of maligning the perceived attacker's character. It's as common as breathing and predictable as indigestion after overly-spicy food.

Don't fall for it. The judging in view here is NOT a prohibition against calling sin, sin. We are commanded to know what constitutes evil, and to discern good versus rotten fruit, particularly within the church. Discernment in regard to behavior is part of rightly dividing the word of truth, but judging motive or spiritual state is not, nor, and this is key, is pronouncing sentence. This is the same guidance Jesus gave earlier when he said that "…whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire." Why? Because it is a statement about someone's heart, and only God knows the heart.

Individually, as opposed to corporately (as in society, culture, or a community), we are in no position to pronounce judgment on someone's character, and more importantly, to put ourselves in the place of judge, jury and executioner. That is a role exclusively reserved by God for the Son of Man, Himself. Any attempt on our part to usurp that authority is putting ourselves on Christ's throne, and is the epitome of presumption. And, if we are foolhardy enough to attempt it, the imposed penalty is both brilliant and severe. Consider the spiritual equation above: “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."
That should send a chill of fear up your spine, and cause you to purpose in your heart to show others mercy above all else, rather than condemnation. The cliche, hate the sin but love the sinner, however overused, is indisputably true, and a perfect rule of thumb to set your heart on the right track. If I know that my unforgiving and judgmental condemnation of someone else is EXACTLY the standard by which I will be judged, then my only response is to tremble. I know I don't live up to even my own standards, let alone God's. Who am I to put myself in the position of relegating someone else to the dark and dreary realm of my condemnation? Especially if I'm unwilling to slink off there myself. Only an idiot does certain things against the wind.

I do not want what I deserve, and frankly, neither should you. I don't care how swell you think you are. Compared to the standard of perfection Jesus cites in this very discourse, you are a loser, just like me. And while you are likely far less a loser than I am, so what. In scholastic terms, the test is pass/fail. Not only that, but however you grade someone else's score, that's the standard that will be used to grade your own. Best not to render that kind of final, evaluatory judgment at all, but rather leave it up to Him who judges rightly.

And that's the point. Do not put yourself in the place of God who knows all and has all power. While we are commanded to discern the nature of a tree by its fruit, only God is the one who cuts down the bad ones and throws them into the fire. Our part is to beware and discerning.

What does this all mean in a practical day-by-day sense? It doesn't mean shut your eyes or mouth to sin, especially your own, or within the church. It does mean be very careful about how you treat someone else based on your own opinion of his or her spiritual state or worthiness. It means that the safest response to any offense is mercy and forgiveness, because you are setting yourself up for the same severity of judgment that you impose. (That should make you shiver in dread!) It means that unless you know the whole story, don't jump to conclusions about anyone or anything in the judicial sense. Reserve your judgment until the facts cook for a while, and then hold your personal opinions lightly, so that new information changes them, rather than you twisting the facts to support your presupposition. 

It means encourage rather than criticize, exhort rather than condemn, offer support rather than castigation, and above all, be merciful. Even Death Row inmates who rightly deserve capital punishment for their crimes, can not be judged by us to be eternally irredeemable. Physical death is not the end of existence, and Christ is the only gatekeeper of Heaven.

On the other hand, it doesn't mean don't take a stand for what you know is right, based on God's word. Sin is sin, and relabeling it doesn't alter its nature. Evil exists and thrives in this world, especially when those who know good do nothing to fight it. It also means that if you want mercy, be merciful. If you want forgiveness, be forgiving. If you want to be loved, be loving, for "…with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."
These are instructions similar to those declared by Jesus throughout this incredible three-chapter teaching, woven in and around this discourse like exquisite golden threads. Christ eloquently describes each principle in simple, yet profound words and illustrations, often repeating them in different ways because He knows how thick our heads can be. And all of it, every last carefully phrased thought and word picture is His gift to us so that we know Whom we serve, how we are intended to live, and how much He loves us.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV).