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The Proper Use of Judgment Christians are, and always been, required to make judgments of what is right versus what is wrong. This is just as much a binding commandment of God as that of loving one another -- of living a godly life -- of keeping oneself unspotted from the world; and every bit as much a necessary requirement for becoming and living as a child of God and obeying Him as "Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess, and be Baptized." Exercising judgment is essential to the growth and preservation of our faith. In Matthew 23.23, Christ calls judgment one of the "weightier matters of the law," right along with mercy and faith (and just as important as the observation and performance of religious formalities and rituals.) Indeed, the Christian is to practice judgment, but to do it in the proper manner. In John .24, the child of God is warned against judging "according to the appearance" but is admonished to "judge righteous judgment." However, there are so many in the world today, and even in the Lord's church, who believe that any attempt to judge between what is right and what is wrong is unloving and un-Christian. These people most usually defend their position by quoting such passages as Matthew 7.1-5 and Luke 6.37,38. What they fail to see, though, is that these passages refer to the error and consequences of failing to judge as God would have us do so; and in no way enjoin or prohibit us from judging righteous judgment-- or, simply; of judging according to what we find in God's word. Yes, there are times when the Lord's children may over-step the bounds of proper (allowable) judgment; but such things do not absolve us from our duty to judge according to the word of God. For example, a brother or sister in Christ may judge improperly if they overlook the lesson of Romans 14.4, "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yes, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand." Also, some may not see God's wisdom as revealed in such passages as Colossians 2.16; 1 Corinthians 4.3-5, or Romans 14.10. In these, and in many other places in the word of God, we are shown what is and is not within the bounds of correct, allowable and scriptural Christian judgment. In addition, the Christian must remember what is said in James 4.11,12, "Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of a brother, speaketh evil of the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?" I hope that this article and the passages quoted will aid you in heeding Christ's call to "judge righteous judgment." KLG |