Today’s Reading: Matthew Ch. 7
Optional readings: Luke 6:37-49
The Sermon on the Mount
How quick we are to point the finger at others! Most of the time, it’s not a condemnation of a major sin, but more of a snide remark over something smaller. I would argue that either way, it’s not a charitable spirit.
Jesus speaks here of judging others. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged” (vs. 1). He speaks to hypocrisy here, saying that we have no place to judge others when we ourselves have our own, sometimes bigger, sin.
What should we make of the fact that just a couple of paragraphs later He calls us to examine the fruit of prophets? Wouldn’t that be judging? How can I determine if a fruit is good or bad if I’m not supposed to judge?
Recently, I felt as though the Lord gave me a little insight on this issue…
If we are making an assessment about things we can know, that is examining fruit. If we are making a judgment on things we cannot know, that is the judgment we are commanded not to make.
Can we observe someone’s behavior firsthand and compare it with Biblical teaching? Yes.
Can we prescribe (or presume) the eternal outcome for that person? No.
Can we witness sin and recognize it as such? Yes.
Can we make assumptions about the heart or the motivation behind those sins? No. Only the Lord knows someone’s heart.
Would some examples be helpful?
An unbeliever blasphemes God. (Sin.)
We treat them as reprobate, beyond help, and condemned to hell. (We can’t know that. Also sin.)
Suzy and Betsy admit to spreading lies about you. (Sin.)
You tell everyone that they’re just jealous of you. (You can’t know that. Also sin.)
We cannot play God and make presumptions about things only the Creator would know.
That does not excuse us of our responsibility to be wise and discerning, though.
Do you think we could also discuss Judgment’s sneaky brother, Criticism?
Try to think about those things that “get under your skin.”
The temperature of the restaurant? The slacker at work?
The way so-and-so dresses? The style of worship at church?
In my experience, the majority of criticism and conflict starts with one almost undetectable and easily deniable opinion: The problem person is not me.
Seriously, we probably don’t realize it, but we usually use ourselves as the measuring stick for others. “If people were only more like me, we wouldn’t have these problems.” We may not say it or think it so clearly, but that’s often what is at the heart of our criticisms.
A critical spirit can be masked behind a casual tone, a giggling whisper, or an earnest “discernment ministry,” but it is destructive and unloving. A critical spirit sows seeds of doubt, dissension, and, again, pride.
I have trouble believing that we can be both loving and critical at the same time. Why not believe the best about someone? Why not give someone the benefit of the doubt? Why not assume good intentions instead of bad ones?
I challenge you to catch yourself the next time you start to criticize anything or anyone. Put yourself in their shoes and begin to defend their actions. A generous spirit can change the temperature of a conversation or culture so quickly you’d be surprised.
“How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?” Mt 7:4
“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” 1 Cor 13:2
Lord, bad habits are hard to break, and my critical spirit is a bad habit. I’m going to need your help to change that. I want to see people like You do, with understanding and love. I know You are faithful to help me put this teaching into practice. Thank you. Amen.