Judgment and Criticizing

I thought that I would talk about the words judgment, or judging others, and criticizing today, these words seem to be thrown around often. Question: is all judgment bad?  I don’t think so.  Sometimes, like in so many other areas, we seem to throw the baby out with the bath water, so to speak, in other words, there is no balance in our way of thinking.

Sometimes judging others is very instrumental for our well-being, because some people can’t be trusted, not even every pastor or teacher has our best interest in mind.  Many people are being led astray because of false teachings from people that are intentionally trying to lead people astray.  People who never judge, or have any kind of discernment, often end up in cults and may never come to know the truth.  From my observation, it seems like many people go with the flow, not daring to have an opinion themselves, fearing that they will offend someone or be accused of being judgmental.

Think about this, there are teachers and pastors that teach good works can save you or that there are many ways to get to heaven, along with other non-truths.  They may have good intentions, but they are wrong and instead of judging them and what they say, many people fall into these deceptions and go about teaching the same things.  I don’t think we should start a witch hunt and throw out every pastor and teacher that makes a mistake unintentionally, but we need to be alert to the teachings and actions of people in authority and hold them accountable, just like we need to be held accountable.  I have heard it said, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.”  

What you need to do is be very careful to not have a critical spirit because you have been wronged, or you think you have, so you are angry and start to be critical of everyone.  You can start judging everyone else very negatively, thinking you are better than everyone else, or just being self-righteous.  Jesus said this in Matthew 7:1-5, “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.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Jesus is talking here about hypocritical, judgmental attitudes that tear people down to build others up.  It was hypocritical thinking that Jesus was addressing, not all critical thinking.  We need to be discerning, but not negative.  Jesus said to discern false teachers, of which there were many in that day, and we have them today also.  

Paul taught that we should exercise church discipline in 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.”  Paul was saying that this was sin and the people should have had discernment and mourned over what was taking place, but they were proud and puffed up so went along with it, maybe not wanting to be accused of being judgmental in this situation.  There are definitely times that you need to judge but not be critical in doing so. 

It also says that we should trust God to be the final Judge in 1 Corinthians 4:3-5, “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God!”

I think I have said enough today on this subject to give you something to think about, have a great day and may God bless you and yours!!