Judge…Not?
Posted By Joe on February 7, 2009
I heard it said on Christian radio today that we live in a time when there is a plethora of Bibles. This isn't the old days when the church didn't even want you to read the Bible for fear you'd get the wrong interpretation of something. No, today you can get dozens of different versions, in all colors, sizes, and forms. In spite of this, Biblical illiteracy is rampant in our time. I might even go so far as to say that even among the church goers, there is persistent illiteracy of even some of the basic tenants of our faith.
I was accused today of being judgmental on a current event that is happening locally in Southern CA. Chances are, you have probably heard about it already or have seen it on your evening news. I had intended on posting something about it now that the subject of the story is speaking publicly. I had sent the link to the story to small group of folks who shall remain anonymous, and got back one response that I shouldn't judge. So I started checking myself to see if I was judging as Jesus talks about in Matthew 7.
"Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." --Matthew 7:1-5.
Most people stop at verse one: "Do not judge so that you will not be judged." I fear that this is the position that a lot of church-going folks take and certainly that is what most of the world will tell you as soon as you point out something (as a Christian). Well, it's wrong! Look at verse five: "...first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." Jesus Himself is telling you to help your brother see the error of his ways!
Jesus is cautioning the hypocritical judging: "Do as I say, not as I do." He is not telling you to never judge. In fact, if we just sit idly by and watch someone destroy themselves without trying to help them by pointing out the sin in their life, their blood is on our hands!
Back to the CNN article...there are so many things wrong with that entire situation I could write a whole post on it. At this point, I'd just like to say this: all children deserve two parents: a mother and a father. That is God's original design and purpose.
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." --Genesis 1:26-28.
We live in a fallen world. One command that man has executed with complete joy is "multiply" (and in in this case, in an "unconventional way") but in terms of everything else, well, we've managed to screw it up pretty badly. But that doesn't change God's truth nor his purpose.
I guess at this point, I really feel pity on those fourteen children. I also feel pity for Nadya "Octomom" Suleman, the mother because she stated that the reason she had children was to give her "connections and attachments with another person." Nadya, you need to have a connection with Jesus. Whatever you grew up lacking, He will fill those voids. That is not the responsibility of your children. Only God can fill an empty heart. To ask your children to give that to you is selfish.
May He Increase!
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