Thursday 1 December 2016

Do not Judge

Do Not Judge
Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too 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.” Matthew 7:1,2.
Jesus here is speaking to believers but it is something everyone needs to think about. Jesus is not saying we should refrain from judging things entirely. There are times when we need to judge whether or not a thing is good or bad for us. Whether someone talking to us is being truthful and such.
What Jesus is saying, it’s easy to find fault with people. There seems to be no end of people who will show you every fault someone else has. This should not be so. Especially if you claim to be a Christian.
The apostle Paul warns Christians,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Christians have the right to judge those within their faith especially with respect to what an individual claiming to be Christian is teaching. Such judgement is needed to ensure the teaching is correct.
However Christians have no right to judge those outside their faith especially when it comes to where a person will spend eternity.
The warning of Jesus in Matthew 7:1,2, is not to have a “judgmental spirit”. To constantly be criticizing others.
Jesus warns us,
“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:2.
By criticizing others you are giving them the right to criticize you in the same way. Jesus summed this up when he said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
So to judge others is to essentially tell others they can judge you in the same way you judged them.
On the other hand if you want to be treated well, to be treated fairly and honestly you must do the same to others.
I believe  the words of Jesus I quoted, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
The so called “golden rule” is something everyone, Christian and non-Christians can understand. Something if followed it is a rule that makes everyone’s life better.
Please think about it.

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