Too frequently, people feel judged by others. Probably most prevalent in the church. And they blame the judgment and hypocrisy for reasons they leave the congregation or stop going to church altogether. So today I want to talk about casting judgment versus discernment.
You might feel that I'm splitting hairs with this one and maybe I am. What is this judgment that's being cast? But notice the way I'm pausing them. I'm putting quotes around the word judgment.
Is it sending someone to hell or saying they're not going to heaven? Is it making a statement about something that needs to be addressed, modesty, bad language, something inappropriate? Is it hypocritical to make statements like these? Ooh, now that's a can of worms.
What most people are likely doing is trying to be discerning. Testing things against the scripture, distinguishing between right, wrong, good, bad, should, and shouldn't, can or can't. Unfortunately, people too often can't handle criticism when it means they have to change something. When they look for the scriptures to call people hypocrites, likely just to make themselves feel better.
And yes, we are all hypocrites in some fashion. We all have opinions on what other people should do that we disagree with and likely we have our own snares that we fall into. And we're not in a position to judge the actions of another. So, what is discernment?
Discernment is a personal tool to learn what you should or shouldn't do. The process that you use to explain or advise someone. The reason you avoid things or influences you don't agree with. The reason you search the scriptures to have an answer.
That's what discernment is. Here's what discernment is not. A tool for unsolicited advice. A proper explanation of why you spoke to someone, the way that you did, about something they're doing or...
A reason to write a letter to someone condemning them of something they're doing. A justification for the bad looks you may be giving someone, doing something you disagree with or looking a certain way. Now, I understand there may be exceptions to these, such as the elders needing to address a blatant sin so it doesn't infect or negatively affect other members of the entire congregation. Parents needing to address behavior or bad habits of their children.
A spouse needing to address behavior of the other spouse to try to keep their marriage wholly in the eyes of God. There may be others, but notice there's a relational aspect here. These things might be unsolicited, but it's for the betterment of the relationship. It's to keep each other accountable and it's to teach or guide.
What does the Bible say about discerning? Hebrews 5, 14 says, Solid food belongs to those who are full age. Those who reason by use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. In Romans 12 verse 2, where it's largely used not to conform to the world but be transformed by the meaning of your mind, well, why would you want to do this?
So you could prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 1 John 4 verse 1, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits whether they're of God. Why would you want to do this? Because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 Thessalonians 5, 21 test all things, hold fast what is good. They have stained from every form of evil. Diderment is what we acquire when we seek wisdom and understanding. Other verses that go along with this Psalm 119, 125, give me understanding.
O Zea 14 verse 9, the righteous walk in the ways of the Lord. Proverbs 15, 14, the heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge. Proverbs 18, 15, the heart of the proven acquires knowledge and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. In Acts 17 verse 11, the Bereans receive the word with all readiness and search the scriptures daily.
Why would they search the scriptures daily? To make sure that what they are being told is true, right aligns with the scriptures. And then we have to examine, test, or figure it out for yourself. If someone wants advice, then you've already done the examining, you'll be able to give a ready answer to it.
In Galatians 6, 4, let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another. 3, 4, 12, the word of God is living in powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and joins in marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 2 Timothy 3, 16, 17, all scriptures given by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction, and righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. These things are predominantly talking about taking care of the scripture in your life, examining your life, your actions, your words, what you're doing, examining your work.
It can be applied to others, sure. But again, if it's unsolicited and you don't really have a relationship, you're casting a judgment on them. We don't all have the same issues or questions. We each need to use God's word to test when trying to figure out the right course that we need to take.
Now, this casting judgment? What is that? It's determining a punishment or penance for someone else's offense. We are instructed not to engage in this explicitly because no one is qualified.
Gems 4, 11-12, in there it talks, who am I to judge my neighbor? We are expressly told there's no partiality. Sin is sin regardless of its type. James 2-10, if you stumble in one point of the law, you're guilty of all of it.
We are advised to stop passing judgment on each other. Romans 14-13, therefore, let us not judge one another anymore. But rather, resolve this, not to put a stumbling block where it caused a fall in our brothers' way. When we pass judgment, we elevate ourselves to superior to the one we're judging.
There's only one person, being superior. Romans 12-16-18, be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things inside of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, lift peaceably with all men. John 8, 1-11, even Jesus had this mentality.
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Not early in the morning he came again into the temple. And all the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman caught in adultery.
And when they had said her in the midst, they said to him, teacher, this woman was caught in adultery in the very act. Now Moses and the law commanded us that such be stoned. What do you say? This they said, testing him, that they might have something of which to accuse him.
But Jesus stooped down and rode on the ground with his finger, as though he did not hear. So when they continued asking him, he raised himself up and said to them, he who was without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. Again, he stooped down and rode on the ground. Then those who heard it being convicted by their conscience went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last.
And Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised himself up and saw no one but the woman, he said to her, woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? She said, no one, Lord.
And Jesus said to her, neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more. I'm not saying that we can't call a sin a sin. We can't understand what is a sin and what isn't a sin. But these people brought some woman who was in adultery, sinning, and said, we need to kill her.
We need to cast this judgment. Here is the penance. Here is the punishment she must endure. And Jesus very simply said, whoever has not sinned, go ahead, throw a stone.
And then they all left because everybody was on the same plane as that woman in some capacity. When you talk about what a sin is, everybody was leveled. Romans 2, 1 to 3. Therefore you are inexcusable, oh man, whoever you are, who judge.
From whatever you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge, practice the same things. But we know that judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice those things. And do you think this, oh man, you who judge those practicing such things and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
When we are quote discerning and given that advice to people, given the statements, those concerns to people, especially when they don't ask for them, that's the type of thing that runs people off. And that's okay. If they want to run off, they can run off. A lot of this entire thing is heart.
How is your heart? If you're the one doing the discerning, if you're the one doing what people feel is judging, how is your heart while you're judging? You can very easily tell somebody if you're being what someone might call judgmental. You can very easily tell whether or not they're trying to elevate themselves or whether or not they love you.
You can very easily tell if it's for the betterment of you or if it's for the puffing up of them. This is the major issue with being judgmental. What type of heart do you have? Does your heart want you to find out what God's word says?
And then you can be judgmental or discerning whatever the phrase is that you want to use. Does your heart say, look in the Bible, see what it says. And if I see something, approach someone lovingly. Hey, I saw this the other day and I'd like to talk to you about it.
Do you have a second or do you go up and say, I saw that thing you did, that's wrong. That's horrible. You need to change that. Now I'm kind of giving some extremes, but this is what makes people think that the church is just full of hypocrites, full of people who are saying one thing and doing another.
I mean, would you like to feel judged by someone who is not elevated over you? I mean, I don't think I'm going to like being judged by God or judged by Jesus. I don't think I'm going to like it, especially because I got to hold myself. They're going to hold me accountable to everything that I do in my body.
Like I'm going to be held accountable to that. I don't think I'm going to like being judged, but I mean, when it's someone who's not God or Jesus. I mean, how does it feel being judged by someone who's just as sinful as you, especially your brothers and sisters in Christ? When you talk about the golden rule, Luke 631 and Matthew 712, as much as you want.
But I mean, think about that. We need to be careful when we feel judged. What are we accusing someone of doing when we say that person is judging me? Like, are you judging me?
When we say those type of things, we're actually kind of elevating them to the plane of God. What are we saying about that person? And how are we addressing people who need to be addressed? How are we addressing actions that need to be addressed?
Words that need to be addressed? How are we addressing it? How are we approaching it? Is it discernment?
Is it casting judgment? Is it loving? Or is it prideful? Help one another, keep each other accountable, look out for each other, support one another and always point one another to the foot of the cross, where all things are leveled and where the love of God and Christ is made manifest.
I hope you enjoyed today's episode. Stay tuned for more.