By Jim Miller
Gray, Maine
I can't count the times I have heard someone say "you can't judge me only God can". When I hear this phrase it makes me wonder if people even pick up their bibles and study at all. When we love one another as the scriptures teach we want to see that as many people as possible are following Gods word in order to be saved. Without judging the actions of those we come into contact with we can't point out to them were they are in error and how to change.
Every day we make judgments in our lives and we judge by others actions and speech whether those around us are living an upright life. "Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (Jn. 7:24). Does the Bible contradict itself when it says in one passage to "judge not" and in another passage to "judge?" Certainly not! ",God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Rom. 3:4). One passage simply speaks of righteous judgment, and the other of unrighteous judgment. One is right and permitted, the other is wrong and forbidden.
Too many folks have this strange idea that if you do not agree with them about certain Bible questions, that you should just sit there quietly with your mouth shut, otherwise you will be judging them. Now think about this for for a minute. Would not such action make everyone right (in their own eyes) and then there would be no such thing as a false teacher (and if there was, you could not expose their false teaching). This my friends is what they are counting on and have used for many, many years to silence the truth of Gods word.
Those who would fellowship with false teachers or those we would speak out against who teach false doctrines say that we are judging and are more that ready to throw out at you their misuse of "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." They would have us manifest an attitude of "You get to heaven your way and we'll get there ours." No preacher worth his salt would do that and let sin prevail. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Now if you fit that description I for one, do not intend to scratch your itching ears! I am concerned about saving my own soul and the souls of others, and that can only be done by teaching the truth! "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (Jn. 17:17). "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Tim. 4:2). "Take heed unto thyself, and unto thy doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1 Tim. 4:16).
Christian, keep on judging listen not to the vain babbling of those who seek to deceive. Judge the righteous judgment and live pleasing to our God.
