The Bible Edge
Random Thoughts of a Spiritual Nature II
Romans 14:10
But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
This verse needs no explanation. The only question associated with this verse is why don’t Christians obey it? Let one thing be cleared up though, preaching the Word of God is not that which this verse is talking about. A man of God is to preach the Word of God without compromise. Therefore, that preacher must sometimes preach on things in which the folks in the pew are involved. This sometimes causes those who are offended to think that the preacher is judging them; nothing could be further from the truth. He is warning them, but no matter how delicately he speaks on the subject there are those who will accuse him of being judgmental. You see, a preacher preaches a perfect book, that perfection adversely affects the imperfect. But a true man of God judges no man. Just as Jesus said in John 8:15, Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. There will be a time when Jesus judges the work of every person, but today is not that day.
Through experience it has been proven repeatedly that those who do not know Christ are the ones who continually judge others. They make their thoughts and lifestyles a sort of benchmark, and if a person does not measure up to them they are deemed ignorant, inflexible, or even immoral based solely upon the personal bias of the one doing the judging. Who, in their own right, have issues that need attention. Not long ago someone forwarded a picture of a little gray haired grandmother type with this caption below her picture “Those doing the accusin’ are usually those doin’ the doin’!” Well said.
Concerning this thing of judging another Jesus asked the question: And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Matthew 7:3 Excellent question is it not? Judging another is a dicey situation. If not very careful the one who is judgmental will find themselves in the same situation that Proverbs 26:27 describes, Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
One great piece of advice the Bible gives that will help in this thing of judging others is found in Romans 14:4, Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth… We will all be judged at the proper time and place. Until then, know that preaching the perfect book will offend the imperfect; that is not judgment, it is preaching. Judging another brother is a different matter altogether. If this must take place, make sure to obey John 7:24. Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
William T. Howe, Ph.D.