Every true Christian knows that he must, at times, render a judgment concerning something or someone. Sometimes a Christian is confronted by a teacher who is proclaiming error. In such cases, the Lord's warning should come to mind. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." (Matthew 7:15) At other times, a Christian may have to judge regarding the appropriateness of an action. In his first letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul offered instruction concerning idolatry and the Corinthian Christians' relation to it. In 1 Corinthians 10:15, he wrote: "I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourself what I say."

It occurred to me in the course of my study that rendering judgment about a person, thing, or action places a great deal of responsibility on the one doing the judging. I think this is something that we, as Christians, often fail to consider. What do I mean? Is it not true that every time we judge a person or a doctrine, we are simultaneously judging ourselves? For instance, when a Christian condemns evil, is he not at the same time declaring that he is righteous? Consider what the Apostle Paul wrote in his second letter to the Thessalonians. In the first chapter of that letter he made it very clear that many, because of their cavalier attitudes toward God and their disobedience, will meet their doom when the Lord returns (1:8-9). As we continue on in that letter, we read the following: "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you." (3:6-7) By commanding the Thessalonian brethren to steer clear of the idle individual, the apostle Paul was declaring that he, himself, was not idle.

Consider another example from Paul. At one point in their travels Paul and Barnabas were confronted by a magician named Elymas. This Elymas opposed Paul and Barnabas until Paul finally turned to him and said: "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?" (Acts 13:10) Paul's judgment of Elymas would not have held much weight if Paul, himself, was also an enemy of righteousness, full of deceit and all villainy, and making crooked the straight paths of the Lord. In fact, if Paul had been guilty of these things, he would have been nothing more than a hypocrite had he rendered this judgment against Elymas.

Actually, Paul considered this in his words to the Jews in Romans 2. In the first verse he said: "Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things." When we come to verses 21 and 22, we read: "You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?" I'm sure you can see the point. The question God, through Paul, was asking was, how in the world can a Christian judge a person for his sinful conduct when the Christian is doing the very same sorts of things? How heart-breaking it is when preachers who have, for years, thundered from the pulpit bemoaning the evils of adultery are themselves guilty of the same! How spine tingling it is to hear of preachers who have taught the necessity of obeying the laws of the land finding themselves in serious trouble because they were dishonest about paying their taxes!

And let us not think that this is a concern only for preachers. I have often wondered how it is that a Christian can speak to his co-workers about their immorality, while he, himself, can't be bothered to attend worship service for more than one hour one time a week. Or how he can complain about the preacher's message from the pulpit when he never bothers to mention the Lord to anyone?

Let us never forget the tremendous responsibility that we, ourselves, bear when we render judgment. If I am not a righteous person, what business do I have speaking out in judgment against the sins of others? Truly did our Lord say "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to taker the speck out of your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:5)

And yet there is even more to this, for when a person condemns righteousness, is he not declaring himself to be evil? When a person ridicules and mocks Christianity, is he not judging himself to be unworthy of eternal life (Acts 13:46)? When a person speaks out against truth and propagates something different from what the Bible teaches, is he not judging himself to be a false teacher? He most certainly is.

The point is simply this: every judgment one delivers shows what kind of person he/she is. My judgment of others reveals my own standard. If I am not willing to be measured by the same standard, then it would be better if I kept my mouth shut and my judgments to myself. A quick study of the gospels will reveal that our Lord had little time for hypocrites. Is there a log in your eye? If so, why not spend some time fixing your shortcomings before getting around to everyone else's?

Brother Litmer has given us a fine commentary about making "righteous judgments" (John 7:24). Jesus continually reminded the Jews of His day that their hypocrisy made their religion vain and unprofitable. "Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." (Matthew 23:3,4) Yes, words of condemnation have little impact if the one doing the condemning participates in the activity he is condemning and has not repented and acknowledged it to be sinful.

Still, we shouldn't go to the other extreme either. Has anyone ever quoted to you Jesus' words in Matthew 7, "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." (1,2) Those who quote these words use as their argument, "We all sin; therefore, we are not in a position to render judgments against others. God will render judgment. It's true that if God commanded us to be perfect, no one could judge another. Yet, God has commanded us to make judgments.

• How would elders identify those who are "walking disorderly" (2 Thessalonians 3:14-17)?
  
  
• How would the church practice discipline as taught in the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 5:1-7)?
  
  
• How could the church determine which members are strong, and which are weak (Romans 14,15)?
  
  
• How would we arrive at the conclusion that a brother is a heretic, who must be rejected, without making some sort of judgment (Titus 3:10)?
  
  

Much of what the church does necessitates its determining the faithfulness of its members. It can't do this without making some sort of judgment, based on God's word? Some judgments are necessary and commanded.

Sadly, too many in the Lord's church fail to make "righteous judgments" because they judge solely based on appearance. Let us be cautious, fair, impartial, humble, loving, and above all "consider our own selves" (Galatians 6:1,2). (KMG)