Judging others.

Leon ♦ January 22, 2012 ♦ 2 Comments

I like to think that I’m not a judgmental person. But that is what I would like to think. Thinking something, and being something, are entirely different.  I also would like to think that I’m a good person. That in the light of God’s word, doesn’t seem to be working so well either.  God  loves us, and because he loves us he corrects us, as any father would correct a son that he loves.

Heb. 12. 7-9 ⁷If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?⁸But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.⁹Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

I think it is important to note, God never corrects his children by bringing them pain, or suffering, as many would lead us to believe.  No more than a human father would correct a child he loves, by bringing them pain or suffering. A loving father does not teach a child that fire is hot, by holding his hand in a flame.  God teaches his children by his Holy Word.

John 17: ¹⁷Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

I was lovingly corrected today while reading God’s word, when it comes to judging others. When it comes to things of the spirit, it is easy to measure our self’s by thoughts and feelings of the flesh.  And not by God’s word.  This struck me while reading  Paul’s letter to the Romans.  In this letter, Paul calls those he is writing to saints, and beloved of God. But he also addresses some problems, as he does in many of his letters.  Concerning judging others, Paul writes this.

Rom:1 29-32  ²⁹Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,³⁰Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,³¹Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:³²Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Rom:2 ¹Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. ²But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. ³And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?⁴Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Here Paul lists many offenses that men commit against others, among them being proud, boastful, envious, a whisperer, and disobedient to parents. This list reminded me of another scripture written by Paul, Rom. 14:23 … whatsoever is not of faith is sin.  Paul states, whoever commits any of these offenses is worthy of death.  In the law of Moses, anyone found being disobedient or disrespectful to their parents, was to be stoned.

^{Duet:21- 18-21 18}If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:¹⁹Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;²⁰And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.²¹And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

The punishment for transgressing God’s law is harsh and unforgiving. But the Good News is, we are not under law, but under grace, if we have accepted Jesus, as our Lord and Savior.   Paul ended all this by stating, it is God’s goodness that leads us to repentance.  Having said all this, I know I am guilty of many of the things on Paul’s list, that are worthy of  death. With God’s help, I will try not to be judgmental of others, knowing that if I am, Paul states, I despise the riches of God’s goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;  and condemn myself.