Thou shall not judge?

mrpopdrinker

New Member
I think one of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible is Matthew 7:1-2. Allow me to quote it "Do not judge or (for?)you to will be judged. For in the same way you judge others you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." Now I have seen "christians" use this verse to shut people up about things. For instence you tell them about how certain cults are wrong and they use that verse to shut you up. I want to explain what this verse really meens though. Most of you know I condemn halloween. Now lets say hypothetically of course that I take a step further and say you will go to hell for it. Now because I have said this if I go out and celebrate halloween and lets say I get shot and die then because I said you could go to hell for it and I did it I would go to hell. In a summery the verse is saying if you put up standards other then God's then after you are judged by his standards then you will be judged by your own as well.
 
remember that we do not know people's motives or heart. We can look at their fruits but only God knows for sure if that person is going to heaven or hell.

We have to becarefull when judging others, chances are we have sin in our own lives

Luk 6:41 And why beholdest thou the mote(speck) that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam(log) that is in thine own eye?
 
[b said:
Quote[/b] (CCGR @ Oct. 30 2003,9:20)]remember that we do not know people's motives or heart. We can look at their fruits but only God knows for sure if that person is going to heaven or hell.  

We have to becarefull when judging others, chances are we have sin in our own lives

Luk 6:41 And why beholdest thou the mote(speck) that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam(log) that is in thine own eye?
Remember though it doesent say to leave the speck in your brothers eye just to remove your beam before you remove his speck.
 
I think you can choose not to do anything that you feel doesn't glorify the Lord and not be in danger of judging someone or something. Let the Spirit lead you into all wisdom and understanding.

I myself do not feel Halloween in its current worldly commercial enterprise glorifies the Lord. However, I will be dressing up as Moses and taking my children to church tomorrow evening for our 'Fall Festival'. There will be no ghouls, ghosts or monsters at our party!
biggrin.gif


Why should the enemy have Halloween all to himself...
 
I tend to interpret that verse very literally, and the meaning I get can be summed up in the first three words of the verse. "Do not judge." I have the right to explain my personal convictions and try to explain the truth to someone, but the minute I condemn them for the state of their lives (even if not openly expressed), I have stepped beyond my authority.

[b said:
Quote[/b] ]Now lets say hypothetically of course that I take a step further and say you will go to hell for it.

I realize that this is a hypothetical statement, and that is intentionally phrased that way for the pruposes of discussion.

The key in this situation, rather than making an absolute statement such as this, would be to explain your conviction. Explain that the holiday doesn't glorify God, that you believe celebrating it is detrimental to the state of their soul. By condemning that person to Hell, whether the condemnation was intended or not, you have placed yourself on the throne of judgement.

[b said:
Quote[/b] ]Luk 6:41 And why beholdest thou the mote(speck) that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam(log) that is in thine own eye?

Question: do you think you will ever get to a point in your life where you are flawless enough to point out the flaws in someone else? I don't think I will.

On a side note, I agree about Halloween.
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I interperet the verse literally as well. However you cant sum up the verse in three words. I believe if somone is doing wrong and maby they are not realising it that you are to point it out to them. If they are a true christian then they will welcome correction.
 
Also one thing I forgot to mention. One of my biggest points is saying that we can discern. Alot of people will call discerning judging.
 
Good point - very often discernment and loving correction are mistaken as judgement.  When conviction is felt, one of our natural reactions is to become defensive and think we are being attacked or judged.

In that case, the verse above can be mistakenly used a defensive mechanism, when no judgement was intended.

To a certain extent, it boils down to delivery - correction without condemnation is key.  We also have to be willing to accept correction from others.
 
I think there is a difference between judging someone and sharing an opinion. If I were to say, "Hey you. You're going to hell." or "Hey you, you need to go to hell." I've passed judgement and I think this verse would apply to me. But if I were to say, "Hey, its very possible that if you continue to do that or if you continue not to do that or you might end up in hell." then that's not passing judgement, that's just sharing one's thoughts on the matter.

So we would have to hear what is being said and how it is being said to see if the verse quoted is used out of context. I will admit that many Christians tend to sometimes use verses out of context. They're human and they'll do that. But it should never be used to shut someone up. Its just a polite way of asking someone to rephrase what is being said so that it sounds more like a concept to be thought about and less like a passed and judged verdict.
 
Simply put

Do not judge ( intentions, motivations, the heart) of people... cause you don't know

however we are called to judge, disern, the fruit (actions, words, consistant character) of people.

(similar vien to "Hate the sin not the sinner")
 
Any man on this earth may judge any other man if he does so by THE SPIRIT OF GOd.
In fact during the 1000 years of the rule of Jesus/Yeshua on earth, there will be much judging of men by the sheep of THE LORD GOd.
But this concerns natural matters!
But of SPIRITUAL THINGS, ONLY JESUS BY THE FATHER WILL JUDGE MEN.
And that is about where men will spend eternity.
Now then in order for me to seperate myself for EVIL, i can judge the spirits in men at anytime.
But this is for only a natural purpose, to warn others of the impending evil in men.
For men have the ability to do evil unto men greater than satan. amen
So as i do not worry about satan, i do worry about evil men with UNWILLING spirits. amen
But if you must, then judge by THE SPIRIT OF GOd. AMEN
i am nothing0.
Tell me know what is it i do not understand that you can correct me about?
i am nothing0.
JESUS IS THE LORD1PRAISE THE LORD1THE LORD YESHUA. AMEN
 
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