Friday Night Message: To Judge Or Not To Judge

April 21, 2023

Good evening brethren, 

Is judgment something that we are to have and to grow in, or is it something that we are to avoid altogether and eliminate from our lives?  Or could it be both, depending upon the multiple meanings and nuances of this word “judgment”.  Let’s continue this series of messages which is named “To Judge, Or Not To Judge?”

For the purpose of this series, I would like to describe for you two broad categories or types of judgment – condemnation, and discernment: 

• Under the general heading of condemnation go such meanings as harsh criticism, sentencing, passing judgment, censure, and the like.  

• Under the general heading of discernment go such things as distinguishing right from wrong, having understanding or good sense, the ability to compare and decide.

Why is it wrong for us to judge others in this way?”  Why should it be avoided?  …

1. It’s not our job.

2. We would not do a good job of it.  Why?...

2-A. Judging according to the flesh

2-B. Judging before the time

2-C. Judging from afar

 3. As you judge, you will be judged.

4. Even Jesus, during His earthly ministry, tended not to judge [condemn] people.

5. Sometimes it’s not even a matter of right or wrong.

There are areas of life where we sometimes go judging others… where it is not a matter of sin or not.  Rather, it is a matter of opinion, or preference, or conscience, or approach.

• Now let’s begin to discuss in some detail the second major type of judgment we mentioned in the beginning of the series …. Discernment.  Here the focus is different.  In discernment the emphasis is on an incident more than upon the person, and on outward actions or behavior more than on inner motives and a person’s heart and attitude, and on consequences here and now rather than on a person’s ultimate fate.

In this sense, we do need to have judgment.  We should be able to tell the difference between good and evil.  We need to be able to observe fruits over time.  We must have the ability to compare and choose wisely between alternatives.

About 25-30 years ago the phrase “we must not judge” became a misused cliché in the WCG, twisted into an argument for doing away with God’s law.  But that is perhaps a topic we will investigate at some point in time.

Now just as we reviewed some reasons why we should not have the first kind of judgment, we will now list some reasons why we should have this second kind of judgment.

1.  We are now preparing for future responsibilities.

Right now we may not be the president, or the governor, or a mayor, or even a teacher or a parent.  But in the future we will hold very important offices and positions in God’s kingdom.  We will be given an incredible amount of responsibility in tomorrow’s world.

Dan 7:22 – Until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. 

John 14:2 – In My Father’s house are many dwelling places, if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.

Rev. 5:10 – And You have made us kings and priests on the earth.  And we shall reign on the earth.

I Cor 6:2-3 – Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?  …Do you not know that we shall judge angels?

If we are going to have major responsibility judging in the future, it may be a good idea to begin developing that skill now.  Next Friday night we will consider another reason why we SHOULD judge things when it comes to discernment.

Have a peaceful Sabbath,

Fred