A Questioning Faith What Does the Bible say

A Questioning Faith: What Does the Bible say about Judging?

Original Question The Bible tells us not to judge (Luke 6: 37) and to judge (1 Corinthians 6: 2), what should we do? Is this a contradiction or an ethical polarity?

Old Testament on Judging “God’s judgments are just, i. e. , they are in harmony with his faithfulness, whereby he espouses the cause of his chosen people, guides them and ensures their safety. Thus God’s judgment is motivated by love, grace, and mercy and its outcome is salvation. ” Walter Schneider

Post-Exilic • More apocalyptic in style • Character of punishment is emphasized

New Testament Themes • Look at the many nuances of judging in the New Testament • Based on this New Testament survey we will answer the original question

Theme #1 -Warning against judging “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged …Why do you see the speck in your neighbors eye, but do notice the log in your own eye. ” Matthew 7: 1, 3

Should we take this literally? Does Jesus mean that we are to never make moral judgments about the behavior and values of others?

“The words ‘do not judge…’ in context are not a prohibition against moral discernment but an invitation to participate in a process of moral growth. ”

This text warns the listener of “moral watchdogs, the fault finders, those who are ready to point the finger of judgment at others. ” Tom Long

Important first step “If a member of the faith community sees a moral flaw in another person and is tempted to come down on the neighbor in moral judgment, that person is not to do so until engaging in deep self-examination. Then, and only then, can the neighbor’s wrong be addressed. ” Tom Long

Results “Finding the wrong in oneself before turning the moral searchlight upon anyone else causes one to move from self-righteousness to compassion. ” “Only when we have stared into the abyss of our own moral failure can we be of genuine strength to others in their struggles” Tom Long

Theme #2 -Judging as invitation “Simon answered, ‘I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt. ’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have judged rightly. ’” Luke 7: 43

Judging as invitation “Jesus invites Simon to reconsider the basis of his own interactions with others, and thus the possibility not only of forgiving debts but also of having debts forgiven. ” Joel Green

Theme #3 -Judgment coming from Authority “Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God. ” Acts 15: 19

Judgment of Authority “This is not a personal opinion, but a reasoned judgment from someone with authority to render a verdict on behalf of the council. ” Robert Wall

Theme #4 -Judgment as tolerance “Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. ” Romans 14: 3

Judgment as tolerance “The one who does not eat evidently regards not eating as of crucial importance in maintaining the relationship with God, so that eating becomes an act unacceptable to God, an act, that is to say, which merits divine condemnation. ”

• Christian tolerance avoids this dynamic • Christian tolerance focuses on the larger issues • Christian tolerance seeks to differentiate between essentials to the faith and secondary matters • “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty” St. Augustine

Theme #5 -God as final judge “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment

before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. ” 1 Corinthians 4: 3 -5 Our ultimate judge is God who knows our hearts

Judging polarity “the church has been entrusted with the task of judging in matters which affect its members. Human relationships are to be regulated by love, but measured by the standard of God’s perfect righteousness, no one remains righteous in God’s sight – This is

why we are not given the right to judge another. Dire warnings are addressed to the unmerciful and the arrogant who are blind to their own lost condition, who are not ready to forgive and to pray for their enemies. ” Walter Schneider

Conclusions • Judgment can be messy “The civil people are not committed and the committed people are not civil. ” Martin Marty • Judgment is a polarity that rests on God’s sovereign love

• We are called by Jesus to not be judgmentalenter into inner change in ourselves (Luke 6: 37) • We are called by Paul to not be judgmental of others in the community of faith, to have tolerance (1 Corinthians 6: 2) • Judgment is a process for our growth as Christians- invitation for mutual growth