This is probably the most popular statement in the Bible. I think that it may be even more popular than “you must love your neighbor as yourself”. I suspect that people whose knowledge of Christianity is pretty much limited to the name of the religion even know this statement. And I think I know why. But before I tell you what I think, let’s muse about something else.
Jesus told Christians to go and preach the gospel to every creature and teach everyone all that he had taught them. But he also said, “judge not” (the popular statement). Now, the most common interpretation of that admonition is that we should not tell people that their lifestyle is wrong. You can’t say to a promiscuous person, “hey, you’re being sinful; sleeping with people you’re not married to is wrong.” That’s being “judgy”. You can’t tell homosexual people, “you can’t sleep with people of the same gender as yourself. That’s wrong”. It’s being “judgmental”. Basically, it’s “judgmental” to tell people that things they either like to do or feel helpless about doing are wrong.
But doesn’t that also mean that it is “judgy” to tell someone that they’re being “judgy”?
I think that people are so intimidated by our incredible ability today to discover new things and by the amazing things we have discovered within the past three centuries or so that we have thrown away our ability to actually think. It has become a sort of tragic pastime for me to spot such thoughtlessness in the statements of many people especially some who claim to have come into some kind of intellectual nirvana where they are free to explore the powers of their mind. It’s a pastime because of the irony and a tragedy because it’s too easy.
What did Jesus mean? The question is for those who quote that part of the Bible intending to wield the authority of the speaker for any reason. Was he saying that we can never call anyone on the carpet if they do something wrong? Or was he saying that we cannot tell what right and wrong is? Or was he saying that we don’t have any right to correct one another? I often advise people who want to talk about Christianity or who claim to be Christians to learn to read or, at least, think of the whole Bible as a single document. You will find as you read on in the Bible that Jesus could not have been saying any of that. How could he if he wanted us to follow his example or even obey the so-called Great Commission? How do I tell people that God says that they should repent of their sins if I cannot call their sins ‘sin’? How do I discuss the teachings of Christ without evaluating human behavior, clearly identifying and categorically condemning evil practices and praising good behavior? It’s impossible if that statement meant any of the things it is popularly thought to mean.
Then there are those who make a habit of saying that Christians have no right to judge because they’re no better. Now, if the person saying that is a non-Christian, it is understandable because no one likes to have their errors pointed out. Our natural pride instantly kicks in when someone points out something we could have done better. But when the speaker is a Christian, it is infinitely more tragic. Why would anyone become a Christian if they didn’t think that being a Christian is better than being a non-Christian? What was the point of Jesus’s death and resurrection for you if not to make you a Christian? Is it not foolish to be treating such a precious gift as no big deal? One man told the apostle Paul once that he spent a great deal of money to buy the Roman citizenship that Paul had by birth to show just how valuable and superior that citizenship was. Jesus spent his life, his fellowship with Father and the Holy Spirit to buy human beings the name and rights of a Christian. How can anyone say that it isn’t better than the alternative? I don’t think it is possible to say a more foolish thing. To treat the sacrifice of God the Word with such levity is a grave error and one for which any defaulter should pray seriously for mercy.
What’s more, the claim of Christianity is not just that it offers a better alternative and a better life for humans but that it offers THE life that humans should live. Jesus said without mincing words, “I am THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life.” That’s the message of Christianity. It claims absolute superiority over any other alternative. So what do we preach when we say that we are no better than the non-Christian? It may seem like humility but it is actually something more like cowardice. The truth that we believe as Christians is that being a Christian is infinitely better than being a non-Christian BUT Christianity is not a reward we earn so we cannot be proud of ourselves that we are Christians. It is a gift offered to everyone no matter who they are, where they have been and what they have done so on what basis can you be arrogant just because you possess the GIFT? The person you could act like you’re superior to because you’re a Christian and they’re not has the same chances as you did to become a Christian too so your arrogance is totally meaningless. But it does not change the fact that as a Christian one is infinitely better than a non-Christian although I’ll grant that that can be annoying for non-Christians to hear but if we only say things that won’t annoy people we will end up saying very regrettable things. Case in point: Jesus Christ died and resurrected for no big deal if a Christian is not better than a non-Christian.
It is the job of members of the human society to look out for each other. And judging each other’s behavior is one way we do that. Our legal systems were created for precisely that. To preserve the safety and prosperity of humanity, we must be willing to hold each other to the highest and best standards. If we do not, we will soon destroy ourselves. So we really should get over ourselves.
As for what Jesus meant in that statement, he was only saying: “Don’t waste your energy ranking yourselves against one another trying to decide who is better than who. Your business is to become a good person and help others to become good too. You’re all together in school and a thief today could become a devoted philanthropist tomorrow.” (see Matthew 7:1-4).
Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Image via Christcentrist
Od
Latest posts by Od (see all)
- Anti-Intellectualism - September 9, 2016
- The Question Of Double Standards For Sex - June 24, 2016
- “Thou Shall Not Judge”: Is Judging People Totally Wrong? - March 14, 2016
Butterflymind
One question:
Does this then mean that using the expression, “I’m only human” by a Christian as an excuse for bad behavior is cowardly?
Od
Lol. Actually yes, it is. We are pupils under an excellent teacher. Granted that we will be tripped up often and make a bunch of mistakes, quite a few of them embarrassing, it is still an indictment of the teacher’s ability to claim that our failure is unavoidable. We fail when we do because we often take a while to learn to trust him. He’s patient with us but it’s no excuse.
thetoolsman
Chapman for the lady… c[_]
Butterflymind
Omg!! First for the firstest time!! ????
Chapman, Tools?
Od
Twelve-pack of Coke. 😉
Bunmi
“A Christian is better than a non-christian”
Wow, really? Are you trying to say that non-christians are inferior to Christians? With the insurgency in the north, shouldn’t we be careful with the things we say? Or how is that statement different from what they are proclaiming?
Am just tired of all this “B religion is better than C religion”. People should be allowed to practice whatever religion they want without feeling inferior to any other person or group of people. You were probably assuming that a non-christian can not be of a good moral standard, that a non-christian is a sinner.
I believe judging is wrong in every way, although we do it unconsciously sometimes. Preaching the gospel is beautiful, infact the idea behind preaching the gospel is such a beautiful one, it depicts love. It shows you care about the person and you want them to enjoy the abundant grace and love God is able to bestow on us. However, the bible has never asked us to enforce our beliefs on someone, it encourages us to preach the gospel not enforce or judge, it’s why we have free will to be able to decide to either do good or bad. It’s not judgy when you tell someone that what they are doing is wrong especially when it’s quite obvious that it is, It becomes Judgy when you persecute them in your mind or not, when you tell them they’d end up ‘here’ or ‘there’.
Od
Ok, first, I wrote that after I read someone who professed to be a Christian say that a Christian is no better than a non-Christian. I wasn’t surprised. I used to say it myself but for once I realized just what he was saying and I used to say. Whereas my claim to be better than a non-Christian can be even laughable to the non-Christian, a Christian’s claim to be no better speaks to what he thinks of the sacrifice of Jesus. If Jesus’s death and resurrection counts for anything at all, it is in what it made us who become Christians. Saying that we are no better is saying that Jesus wasted his time and his sacrifice of his place in the Godhead to die to make us Christians. That’s a more terrible thing to say than I can rightly describe to you.
Second, the Christian’s claim that he is a better kind of human is specifically demonstrated in his lack of interest in forcing anyone to accept his claim or his way of life. A Christian who understands what he has been born into knows that he doesn’t need to remake the world in his own image. He was given a gift and he can offer it to others but in the end, his peace lies in the fact that when the time is right, the person who has the right to will by himself rid the world of those who need to be taken out of it. Christians have no business coercing anyone into the faith. It is a matter of the heart after all. Can’t be forced.
Third, shebi the Bible is there. I don’t need to write it again nau. If it said that we should judge, then judging is not wrong. If it said that we should not judge, then judging is wrong. I’m pretty sure it says the former but maybe you know something I don’t.
Finally, that someone feels bad about what you claim about yourself and what you think their fate will be if they do something or refrain from doing something is more a function of their own self-image and self-knowledge than it is a function of you. I am never stressed, for instance, about karma. It’s part of an Eastern philosophy that claims that how you have lived on earth determines what will happen to you in your next life. I could care less about that. Those who believe that my behavior will make me return in my next life to suffer some terrible inconvenience are welcome to their horror stories. It doesn’t bother me. Because I simply don’t believe it. The same way, the non-Christian who doesn’t believe the Christian message really shouldn’t be bothered that I believe that he may be going to hell or that he is worse than me. What difference does it make to him that I believe it? If I’m delusional, it’s my problem. He can have a laugh about it over a drink and get on with his life. I’m the one who’s seeing monsters under his bed. As long as I don’t constitute a source of harm to him, why should he bother?
Bunmi
According to your third paragraph, you are pretty sure the bible says we should judge? Okay, okay.
MIA
“Don’t waste your energy ranking yourselves against one another trying to decide who is better than who. Your business is to become a good person and help others to become good too. You’re all together in school and a thief today could become a devoted philanthropist tomorrow.” (see Matthew 7:1-4). Is this your understanding or did Jesus really say that? I actually love verse 5 “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Od
You can tell that it is my understanding. And I offered arguments why it is right. If Jesus was saying something more like the popular ideas we have today, we would never preach the Gospel or talk about Christ. Because as soon as you open your mouth, you are already judging the people you’re talking to.
The fifth verse is actually a good explanatory note to that interpretation I offered. If you’re concerned about people’s failings when you have not addressed yours, you’re very likely into ranking. Because you only care about people’s failures if you’re either compassionate or you’re egotistical. If the former, then you are learning and you want to share what you know with someone you think might need it too.
MIA
Jesus said that we should not act like we are morally superior to be noticed by others, and even indicated that doing such behavior would remove one’s reward in heaven: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 6:1). Ultimately, we do not attain righteousness until we die and are rewarded with righteousness in heaven.
How can Christians be so sure they’re right and everyone else is wrong? Isn’t that arrogant?
Logically, it’s not possible for all the major world religions to be valid ways to God. As seen in the verses above, Christianity states that the God of the Bible is the only true God and salvation is only possible by accepting Christ as Savior and Lord. Judaism states that the God of the Torah/Old Testament is the only true God, but that Jesus is not the Messiah, putting it directly at odds with Christianity. Jesus either is the Messiah, or he is not. If he is, Judaism is not a valid way to God; if he is not, Christianity is not a valid way to God. The mutual exclusion only grows when other religions are added: Islam says that Allah is the only true God, and that anyone who says Christ is the Son of God will be condemned (Qur’an, 5:72, 9:30). Furthermore, if religions other than Christianity are valid ways to God, then one of Christianity’s basic principles is false; in that case, can it still be said to be a valid, trustworthy religion? (See also 1 Cor 15:14-19.)
No matter what belief system you adopt, you will be saying that your system is right and that the billions of people who don’t accept it are wrong. If Islam is correct, the billions of non-Muslims are wrong; if Orthodox Judaism is correct, the billions of Gentiles are wrong. If it is correct to approve of multiple belief systems because they’re all valid ways of achieving spiritual enlightenment, the billions of Christians, Jews, Muslims and others who believe in exclusive religions are intolerant and therefore wrong.
I am a Christian because I was born into a Christian family, yeah I am an adult now and can decide to be whatever I want to be. But I don’t believe I am superior to any other person based on their religion believe.
Bunmi
Well said MIA
Od
Jesus warned against hypocrisy, not against righteousness. If you make a show of your righteousness, chances are it doesn’t really get all the way down to your heart. You are only righteous when people can see you not when there’s no audience.
I’m not sure where you got the idea about when we attain righteousness. Is that in the Bible? I’ve seen nothing to suggest that in the Bible. I know that we will be made perfect body, soul and spirit when Christ returns because he is the culmination of the work God is doing on us today. But to be righteous means to do the right things, that we cannot do the right things until we die simply means that we are not Christians. When we become Christians, first we are made righteous so that we have a natural disposition to do the right things; then we are taught how to do the right things. By the time we die, we should be so skilled in righteousness that it’s totally reflexive to us. We don’t become righteous then. If we aren’t already by then we can never be again.
No, it’s not arrogant, it’s just knowledge. How does a doctor know he’s right and others are wrong? Is it arrogance that he does? Or is he drawing upon knowledge he possesses that others should and can have?
First off, the Old Testament/Torah does not anywhere say that Jesus is not the Messiah. That is what today’s Judaism says. Modern Judaism is a philosophy that holds to the idea that the Messiah is still on his way and that Jesus is not the Messiah. It has nothing to do with the Torah in that respect. The New Testament is not divorced from the Old. When you read the two you can tell that Judaists should naturally become Christians. They pervert their philosophy once they reject Christianity.
Second, you make a very interesting argument. It’s actually what made me start commenting on TNC. I believe that every religion or philosophy is mutually exclusive with every other one. Tolerance is a weird philosophy that may be false. I can’t be an atheist and pretend to be generous toward Christianity when Christianity constantly denies rights that I believe I possess. I can’t be a Christian and pretend to be generous to other belief systems when I preach that they’re all wrong and largely harmful to humanity. Co-existence is possible but only temporarily. People will get tired of the friction and multitudinous small contradictions with each other that they will start trying to subjugate each other. Even Christianity does not accept the indefinite co-existence with other philosophies. It preaches that one day there will be a world where everyone is a true Christian and only the God of the Bible will be worshipped on earth and only his rules obeyed. The significant difference from most other philosophies is that it does not preach that it is Christians who will create such a world, rather it tells Christians that their God will clean the world out himself and remake it for them. It tells Christians to accept persecution and even murderous death as their lot if the world turns on them for their faith. It does not teach them to try to force anything on anybody or conquer and subjugate anybody to make such a world. It denies the possibility of such a world coming about by human force. But it does preach that Christians must work for such a world by preaching to everyone and learning to live the way that people who inhabit such a world would live.
I think that in addition to the above you are really asking how anyone can know that their religion or philosophy is correct. It’s by testing its claims against itself and against emergent reality. If the claims are contradictory and/or they conflict with emergent reality then they are not reliable. If not, they are.
Finally, the definition of a Christian is not “someone who was born in a Christian home”. It is “someone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ and has the Spirit of Christ”. So, unless you are the latter, you really are not a Christian. That might help explain why you didn’t really care about what I said about insulting the sacrifice of Christ when one says that being a Christian does not put them in a superior position. That was specifically what Jesus came for: to lift us out of the dump and make us better than we used to be. If we do not believe that, what’s the point of claiming to be a Christian? And what are we preaching to others who are in the position that Jesus’s sacrifice brought us out of?
MIA
I hate typing long replies with my phone. But you can’t tell me I am not a Christian!! I only mentioned being born a Christian made choose this part. How I practise my christianity is my business. If I was born a Buddhist I am sure I will still be one plus they are really cool people. You could learn a thing or two from other religion you know. “Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another”.
Ephesians 4:2. Peace bro. I think you should practise yoga. Inner peace….. inner peace…… Also please read, “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven” Matthew 6 vs 1(NIV).
Od
Ok, but you didn’t have to. You can wait to post it from a more convenient device if you prefer. 🙂
I didn’t tell you any such thing. I told you how a Christian is properly defined and asked you to be sure that that is what you are. I can’t tell whether or not you are when I don’t even know you.
I know of people who were born into one religious tradition but who chose other paths for themselves. Being born into one thing does not mean that you will definitely choose to stay there.
Perhaps they are. I don’t know any Buddhist personally. I just know of them and some of their stories and their philosophies. I obviously don’t think they are the custodians of the Way of Life. But I’m sure that I could drink tea with them and argue for the authenticity of Christ.
I’m not sure what your point about yoga is. Did something I said sound like I lack this “inner peace” you spoke of? Or is it that you think it’s something I could learn from Buddhism?
I thought you posted that verse before. I’m starting to think that it’s your subtle way of calling me a hypocrite. Is there a reason you think I’m one? Or is it that you just think I’m in danger of becoming one?
Ufuomaee
@Od, amen amen and amen!!! I was about to respond, but now I’ve read your response, you’ve said it all. Well done 🙂
Ufuomaee
@MIA, I read your response in defense of your claim to Christianity, and I have to say it is dearly lacking! It is blatantly obvious to me, and everybody else reading that you do not believe Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life! If you did, you wouldn’t undermine who you are in Christ, or recommend other religions to believers, who you think are intolerant.
Tolerance is not a Christian virtue! Understanding, compassion, kindness, righteousness and love are!
Christians are not born so…they choose Christianity by faith AND obedience to Christ. And if they truly value Christ as the pearl of great price, they wouldn’t champion other religions or deny that they have a superior faith. It isn’t arrogance. It is the truth. Just as boldly as Jesus could say that no one can get to God except through Him alone, we can boldly say that Christianity is the only true religion.
Sincerely, Ufuoma.
MIA
Hello @ufuomaee Ephesians 4:2.“Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another”. Is that not a bible verse or was it for non-Christians? And please darling I don’t claim to be Christian I am a Christian. And if you will sleep better knowing every other person who isn’t a Christian will go to hell because they don’t believe in the one true religion, sweet dreams my dear and if they are right and we are wrong…… See you in hell sister!!
MIA
I won’t comment on this post anymore so help me God!!! “Inhale and God approaches you. Hold the inhalation and God remains with you. Exhale and you approach God. Hold the exhalation and surrender to God.” -Krishnamacharya.
Namaste……MIA
Ufuomaee
Hi @MIA, thanks for your response, and for sharing that verse with me. I dont know what translation that is, but mine reads:
“With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love” (Eph 4:2, KJV).
Still, I am no advocate for intolerance. What I was trying to say is that we are not called to justify evil, which is what the world seeks when they call us ‘intolerant’ because we speak against what we know to be evil. Certainly, we won’t be intolerant by being aggressive, but by our resistance to evil, by challenging the acceptance of sin, we are being intolerant of it. The verse you shared is about Christians putting up with each other’s differences and bearing each other’s burdens, that has nothing to do with putting up with sin. Consider this message from Paul:
“I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person” (1 Cor 5:9-12).
Do you think he is admonishing that Christians should tolerate sin in their ranks? He is saying we should judge it. Even though God is the ultimate God of the believer as well as the unbeliever, when we preach at people to repent, and when we chastise a believer in error, we are exercising judgment.
Also, I think that you may be sitting on the fence as regards your Christianity, because you so joyously said “if we are wrong and they are right, see you in hell!” Like really? Do you really believe in Jesus? Are you struggling with unbelief? That doesn’t sound like anything someone who has the Spirit of God would say.
I don’t sleep better knowing that people are going to hell. But knowing that gives me more reason to tell them the truth, and help them to make the right choice in choosing Jesus too…not by downplaying my faith as a possible way to God out of many others!
I really do hope you reconsider what you believe, and get to know Jesus is a way that will cause you to tell everyone to follow Him, because you are convinced without a shadow of a doubt that their salvation depends on it!
Christian love, Ufuoma.
MIA
@ufuomaee forbearing
fɔːˈbɛərɪŋ/Submit
adjective
adjective: forbearing
patient and restrained.
“he proved to be remarkably forbearing whenever I was impatient or angry”
synonyms: patient, tolerant, easy-going, forgiving, merciful, understanding, accommodating, indulgent, kind; More
uncomplaining, long-suffering, resigned, stoical, stoic;
restrained, self-restrained, self-controlled, moderate, mild, easy, calm;
informalunflappable, cool;
rarelonganimous
“he was tactful and forbearing when I got angry”
antonyms: impatient, intolerant.
We learn everyday.
Cheers
Ufuomaee
Hi @MIA, thanks for the English lesson. I have to say though, that you seem quite intolerant of my intolerance. You’re not all that accommodating of my difference in understanding. But that’s a lesson in the impracticability of ‘tolerance’. Those who shout TOLERANCE appear to be most in tolerant of those who have a different understanding of the word.
Cheers, Ufuoma.
MIA
Please don’t get it twisted dear, @ufuomaee we cannot agree that’s the truth. I just want you to agree the bible talks of tolerance. I totally understand your view but I don’t agree with it. I share my love for Christ and let others share their religion with me.
Peace and Love.
MIA
Ufuomaee
Hi @Mia, you want me to agree with you that the Bible talks of tolerance, without actually acknowledging the correct context of sin! Does the Bible teach that we tolerate sin?
The Bible talks about love too. Does it teach that we should love sin?
The Bible says do not judge, yet, our Brother @Od has the good sense to tell us that Jesus didn’t mean that we cannot discern right from wrong, and that such judgments are not what God is opposed to.
So don’t wave your tolerance flag at me without having an appreciation of the truth, which is that God doesn’t tolerate evil, and He doesn’t expect us to either.
By the way….I though you said you were not commenting anymore?
Have a great day 🙂
Snow
“What’s more, the claim of Christianity is not just that it offers a better alternative and a better life for humans but that it offers THE life that humans should live.
What I like very much is you said it “claims”, well so does Islam, or Any other religions there are. They all claim to be better, the absolute.
Saying or even thinking you are better because you are a christian is simply pride or arrogance, Jesus said “He was the way, truth and life” What you fail to realize is that Jesus wasn’t comparing with any alternative or acknowledging them. He didn’t say ‘I am the “better” way”.
I don’t recall ever reading Jesus saying his disciples were better than the scribes, or better than Zachaeus, I don’t recall Him ever comparing any two people and saying one was better.
So is the christian way of life better than the non-christian way of life, maybe (and i say maybe because I know good non-christians who live a better way of life than some christians) (PLEASE IGNORE THIS STATEMENT BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO GO INTO THE FALSEHOOD OF ABSOLUTE CONCEPTS) .
THAT BEING SAID, Is judging people totally wrong? YES. No shortcut or explanation. As a christian, the right to judge was never granted to you. You were granted the power over demons and powers and principalities, to cast out evil spirits and heal sickness and live a life of example, you were given a commission to preach God’s love and turn people to christ, but you were not given authority to judge.
And Yes, you can preach the scriptures without calling people out on their actions.
Od
Glad you noticed that, Snow. It’s a claim. Every religion and philosophy including atheism and agnosticism makes a claim. You can verify those claims with reason to tell which is true and which is false.
Or it may simply be a statement of fact. If I am the president of the United States and you’re not and I say so, it isn’t pride or arrogance, just a statement of fact.
Not acknowledging the other alternatives was worse than not ranking them alongside him. His refusal to acknowledge them meant that he didn’t consider them worthy to be ranked against him even.
Jesus compared whole cities and said that Sodom and Gomorrah were better than places like Capernaum. Not remembering does not mean it’s not there. As for comparing his disciples with the Scribes, he did say things like, “to you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom but not to them”. I think that that counts as comparison.
The Christian way of life is defined by the Bible not by the behavior of professing Christians just like the atheistic way of life is not defined by how individual atheists behave but by the ideals embodied in the philosophy of atheism which atheists would necessarily be approximating to in their individual and collective behavior. As such, your reason for saying “maybe” is not logical. You can measure both philosophies and decide whether one is better definitively or not without worrying yourself about its proponents.
The authority to preach and teach is also the authority to judge. If I preach to you, I do so because I believe you need preaching to. That is a judgment call. If I am called to carry the Message of Christ everywhere then I am required to contribute to public discourse where human behavior, activity and experience is evaluated and solutions for improving it are discovered. That requires judgment as well. In so far as judgment is evaluation and prescription of a solution, that is my job as a Christian. Condemnation is not my job. Anyone who is a vile, cruel person today could be completely different tomorrow so I would be wrong to condemn. But I wouldn’t be wrong to call people on their wrongs and allow them to call me on mine as well.
MetaplasiaM.D
Anytime this nigga opens his mouth he writes a new book. Fam I dunno how you come up with these replies, but more grease.
Od
Lol. Thanks. I think and I pray and I listen. Nothing exclusive about all that. 🙂
G B
On this judgement matter, I think the Bible kind of says both. There’s the popular “don’t judge” and then the Apostle Paul asks Christians to judge in various situations:
– spiritual people are supposed to judge all things (I Corinthians 2:15)
– Judge matters among themselves, adding that it was particularly shameful if unbelievers found out “Christians were fighting”. (I Cor. 6:1-5)
And in the book of Revelation, a particular church I cannot remember was commended for judging those who claimed they were apostles and weren’t really. Rev. 2 somewhere. I’m too lazy to check.
In this matter of telling people their sin, though, I think the use of some wisdom is in order. Looking at Jesus and studying His tactics, he seemed pretty lax about sin, to the fury of the clergy of the day [maybe because He knew He was gonna die for all sins, anyway?]. He was almost always with the sinners of His day and without exception*, they all seemed to change of their own free will, not because He went a-confronting. I always tell everyone that cares to listen that “not judging” should apply only to those who we would call sinners. Judge the hell out of other Christians if you like and if it makes you feel better and if they want to listen to you. I may be wrong, but you can’t really judge, can you? ????
* I don’t know if Judas counts or not.
PAAL
sorry for judging, In my judgement it takes a willing heart to read and digest this.
we all seem to forget when Jesus purged the temple, sending out gamblers and merchants for defiling and ‘mis’using the temple. was that not judging?
I am the way, the Truth and the life, no one cometh to the father but by me.
As Christians we are encouraged to Love everyone… We can judge lovingly, but remember you can’t pass judgment on anyone.
thetoolsman
Err… Jesus purged where? THE TEMPLE. Did he go to a gamblers den or some whore house?
If you judge people who “claim” to share the same standards/beliefs with you, I guess you can say thats fair and probably tolerable.
Larz
I know not to argue with OD today becuz I simply dont have the energy abeg.
Here is all I will say on the matter. I am striving to live like Jesus. I may be unsuccessful but…
Being like Jesus. Jesus healed and performed miracles on people that were sinners. The prostitute, the woman who married and divorced several women and is living with another man, the tax collector (most tax collectors were known to be dishonorable), etc. When they encountered Jesus, he didnt say, hey peeps, you are a thief or ashewo, you need me in your life. He simply, showed them kindness, reformed them and suggested that they go and sin no more as an alternative to their past lives.
I dont think we have any right to hold any non believer to our standard of living.
As for believers, it is a personal relationship and everyone has a different path to walk. I have seen Christians (myself included) struggle over a particular aspect of the Bible or argue it is not right only to receive personal revealation over it. The Bible is filled with stories of great men of God falling at different stages of their lifes. After an awesome relationship with God, David committed a grave error but until he fulfilled that desire, he was bkinded to his sin. That single sin had consequence for him and took his relationship one step further. So before you condemn the next Christian you know or judging them, pray for them instead and be there for them when that dark veil is removed from their eyes. You dont know their story, you dont know if that liar you know have just battled with and conquer the urge to kill or something more dangerous. Let God lead them how he deems fit. Lets provide advice or counsel if sought but lets leave persecution, condemnation alone
Od
Lol. I don’t blame you for feeling that way. I get tired too. I bother with all this because it’s too easy to believe lies. It’s exhausting to think. And discussing with me demands just that. 🙂
That’s the goal we should all have. The Bible says that we are being rebuilt into the same specs as Christ so, it’s very good indeed.
As a matter of fact, he did. To the Samaritan woman at the well, the one who had been married to five (not seven and there’s no mention of divorce) husbands before and had a man she wasn’t married to, he said unequivocally, “if you knew who I am, you’d be asking me for living water.” If that’s not a “you need me in your life”, I wonder what is.
The prostitute. Not sure who that was. But you probably mean the one that broke an alabaster box of perfume and put it on his feet after washing them with her tears and wiping them with her hair. I’m not sure he didn’t say such things to her but she definitely seemed to love to listen to him.
The tax collector. There was Levi (Matthew) who became one of his apostles and Zacchaeus. Considering that they were more like outcasts to the rest of the religious Jews, they would be very surprised that Jesus would bother with them. We don’t know what he did not say to them but we know that at least one wanted to hear what Jesus had to say at one time so perhaps he didn’t need to tell them that they needed him in their lives. Zacchaeus practically hurled himself at the chance to have Jesus in his life when he got it. That may be telling.
Kindness is good. We should never say no to being kind. But telling people that they are doing something wrong when they are is not an unkindness done to them. If they already know, it may be but do they? Sometimes, people don’t know and you have to show them. After all, the beginning of solving a problem is identifying it. If you don’t know or believe that you are in a bad way, how can anyone get you out without showing it to you first especially when you think it’s fun to be there?
David is an excellent example. He had Nathan to challenge his sin. It’s interesting too that he kept other prophets around him as friends and advisers. There was also Gad and one or two others, I think (I don’t remember very well right now). As personal as our relationship with God is, he gives us one another to keep us in check and encouraged toward the goal of being like Christ. So, it is not wise to insist on being isolated. As a matter of fact, Paul advised vehemently that we not forsake the gathering for that reason specifically. Once you insist on doing an isolated walk with God you become remarkably vulnerable to error. So, you shouldn’t.
Again, calling evil what it is and holding people accountable for their behavior is neither persecution nor condemnation. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5, a little yeast swells the whole bread. If you do not attack sin in fellow believers and exhort them to push for higher standards, their sin soon becomes normal and will become expected behavior among groups of Christians. So, one person’s brazen sin becomes everybody’s guilt before God. It’s much wiser to challenge one another and allow ourselves to be challenged too.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Larz. 🙂
zee
And we forget that Jesus always called out the Pharisees on their hypocrisy, using pretty strong words like “You brood of vipers. You whitewashed tombstones”.
thetoolsman
Context is always key tho. When and where did he make such utterances?
Zee
Read Matt 23. Its one out of a number of scriptures where Jesus rained on the pharisees for their hypocrisy.
thetoolsman
Oh I know the bible passage. I meant who was he addressing and where was he?
K. Rukia
K. Rukia dislikes this post but K. Rukia is too tired to say why.
Nnanyielugo
Nnanyielugo thanks K. Rukia.
One has gotten(rather, lived in, for quite a while) to a place where one can dislike and/or disagree with certain positions with a myriad of reasons.
But one does not have the desire and/or ‘power’ to shout up and down.
I dislike this post for primary reasons: the rationale is wrong, and it(the post) is rife with misinterpretation and ego caresses.
I have a million other reasons, but no strength abeg.
Od
“Tired”. That’s a good sign, I think. It usually tells me when something is provoking thought in me. And if I am provoked to think it’s usually because I was wrong about something before. But then, you’re not like me…or are you? 🙂
K. Rukia
When something ‘provokes thought in me’, I don’t get tired. I become obsessed with finding out more about it.
Od
So…not like me then. More’s the pity 🙁
Countess
You can watch out for someone without judging them. You can correct someone or even call them out without judging them. And judging in this context means thinking yourself more righteous, above or better than them because of their sin. Being a child of God doesn’t make you better than the sinner beside you. More fortunate yes, better no. Before you can judge someone because of their sin, you must be free of sin yourself. And 1) you aren’t cos all men have sinned. We all are sinners. 2) If you believe you are totally free of sin then you are self righteous and you know what God thinks about self righteous people. As a christian, it’s not your place sef to be judgy. It’s your duty to correct with love.
Bunmi
Well said @Countess
Od
I actually said pretty much the same thing. I said that we aren’t to rank ourselves against each other but we are to call one another out when we do something wrong. There isn’t even need for interpretation to see it in my post. I spelt it out rather clearly.
So, we’re “better off” but not “better”. “In a better position” but not “better”. First, I already covered the fact that what we have is a gift that wasn’t earned in any way so even if it makes us better than anyone it doesn’t do so because we deserve it. We were made better entirely by someone else’s good and kind graces that had nothing to do with our merits. But it did make us better.
“Better” is not just about sin, but about positioning, which you preferred to isolate. We were sinners. We still have vestiges of our old life but that is no longer our definition. In God’s eyes – and therefore in ours too – we are totally new creatures with no connection to sin. Like newborn babes who have to learn to use all their new abilities and powers properly. This new creature is so infinitely superior to the old that there is simply no comparison. Part of its superiority is in the absence of a need to compare or measure itself against the old. So, a Christian would be acting weird if they started acting all superior over a gift that is on offer to every Tom, Dick and Bomboy that walked by the table. Is it that he was smarter for picking it up? No, the only thing he had that set him apart was that he was more desperate. That’s hardly something to gloat about.
Gio
That very fine line between being religious and being fanatic/dogmatic
Zee
Actually, Nosa, you are wrong. The right and power to judge is given to believers. Take a look at 1Cor 6:2-4.
Countess
Actually it is you who is wrong. We have this habit of selecting a particular verse of the bible and ignoring the context in which it was used in the entire chapter. Paul was talking of judging situations and settling disputes etc. Saying that in case of any misunderstanding or any such related issue, it should be judged and settled between believers. And matters among believers should not be settled by unbelievers. Nowhere does it say we as believers are free to judge unbelievers as we see fit.
Snow
*sigh*
I’m gonna have to ask you to read the entire chapter, take of notice of the use of tenses especially “shall” and also the environment in which the. “Judgement” will be made.
Then think about whether i’m wrong or not
Ufuomaee
Nice one @Od, I’m in your corner 🙂
Od
Thanks for being there, Ufuoma. 🙂
Zee
No, Countess, I am not wrong. Neither am I taking scriptures selectively or out of context. I was merely responding to Nosa’s statement that Christians have been given the power to cast out demons and what not,but not the power to judge.
The scripture I gave above shows that that’s just not true.
Yes, Paul was telling believers that they ought to settle disputes amongst themselves, without having to take it to court. But did you miss the part where he says believers will judge the world, and judge angels, even? Basically,Paul was saying if believers are going to judge the world and angels, why can we not judge between ourselves.
Therein lies my point. Believers have been given the power,the right and authority to judge.
Bunmi
If you aren’t taking scriptures selectively, have you forgotten the bible has several verses where it was clearly stated that we should not judge? So you pick a verse in the bible to support your claim while nullifying other verses?
It’s funny how some Christians do this, pick one verse or whatever verse they like to suit themselves or lifestyles while ignoring the rest. So you feel you have the power and right to judge, don’t you? Please keep on judging Zee, just keep doing it.
zee
LOLLL, Bunmi, Lollll. I just saw your comment and I must confess, I found it hilarious!
So because I refuted Nosa’s claim that Christians have not been given the power to judge, I am now “guilty”(per your verdict) of judging?
I stay away from commenting because I can’t abide the back and forth. On a final note, though, I believe interpretation is key in understanding the scriptures. Yes, a lot of scriptures say ‘judge not”. But before you go off on a tangent, it is imperative to understand the sense in which Jesus made that statement(which incidentally is the thrust of OD’s post). Did he mean we should turn a blind eye to sin? No. Did he mean we should turn off our witness? No.
Ette, I’m tired, jare.
Countess
Again Zee, context. The whole of verses 1-6 in that chapter is talking about judging disputes and matters not judging people. “The Lord’s people WILL judge the world and even the angels. Madam that is future tense. Here and now on earth he was talking of judging cases, matters BETWEEN people and not judging people because of their sin. But if you so please, go around judging sinners o. I hope you yourself are sin-free.
Romans 2:1 says you shouldn’t judge sinners because more likely than not you yourself are guilty of sin and by judging sinners, you condemn yourself.
Od
Romans 2:1 doesn’t say that, Countess. And, @Bunmi, there is no place in the Bible where you’re told not to judge. There are plenty including this Romans 2:1 that warn against hypocrisy: judging other people concerning things of which we too are guilty.
The whole of Romans 2 and Matthew 7 warn vehemently that we should not condemn people when we have not addressed our own faults and failures. This is why we are told to correct and exhort one another; restore gently those who fall into sin; rebuke (twice) the heretic and if he will not repent, reject him as a brother. We are to behave like peers rather than as judge and accused. We must help each other reach for the on-high calling of Christ but we must not spend time cutting people off at the knees because we think we’re better than them. We must have open bowels of mercy to bear the weak ones among us and we must be willing to also be corrected ourselves.
See 1 Corinthians 5.
And about the unbelieving, we are to preach to them. That in itself is an act of judgment or else why do you think it annoys some and makes others happy? 🙂
Zee
Ahn, ahn, Oga Toolsman. If you know the passage, you know that Jesus was speaking to the multitude and his disciples about the Pharisees.
Victoria
It’s unfortunate that this post would be misconstrued in so many ways. People would be quick to latch on to what they deem as inconsistencies and fail to see the big picture. I’m a firm believer in boundaries-a firm believer that there is right and there is wrong. I believe that sin exists and that I can recognize it when I see it and I should be able to point it out when necessary. If not there’s no point talking about things like corruption, stealing or murder because the perpetrators would tell me not to judge them because I have no right to. Christians correct each other and Christians should love other people including non Christians. But I cannot suddenly think that bad behavior is acceptable. Jesus loved prostitutes and adulterers but did say go and sin no more(which means he identified their actions as sin) , which is the crux of the great commission. Now the fact that I call something or call what other people are doing sin does not make me perfect which is why I need to constantly examine the plank in my own eye(examine my own imperfections and life of sin) . But not just me, other people have the responsibility of telling me that I have a plank in my eye so I don’t lose that eye.lol. That is if they love me. Well done Od. Great post
.
Butterflymind
Well said, Victoria.
This is my go-to psalm in regards to this
Psalm 19: 12-14
12 None of us can see our own errors;
deliver me, Lord, from hidden faults!
13 Keep me safe, also, from willful sins;
don’t let them rule over me.
Then I shall be perfect
and free from the evil of sin.
14 May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you,
O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer!
Countess
@victoria there is no harm in talking about corruption or calling a thief out or having something to say to an idolater. Judging however is different. Let me give you a very common example. A man who tells little white lies from time to time judging someone who practices premarital sex. Romans 2:1-2. For the fact alone that you commit sin regardless of the gravity, you should not judge someone else simply because you are saved and they are not. To be very honest, it is this judgemental nature in some christians that makes it hard for them to win souls.
You see a christian who commits fornication judging a gay person. Because we perceive their sin as worse? Again Romans 2:1. Its that simple. Correct with love. With respect. Call a thief a thief. A fornicator a fornicator. Try and be close to righteous first before you attempt to tell another to be righteous. Call people out but never judge. That has never been our right.
Od
I think your disagreement is just with my use of the word, “judging”. Because you end up saying the same things that I said about it. We are told to call people out on their evils and allow ourselves to be called out on ours too but not to act morally superior because we all need the same grace. You agree with that. What else you’re doing is essentially the fallacy of the straw man. I have not said that we may condemn people and be overbearing toward them. So your addressing it only makes it seem like I did say so, which I did not. That is wrong.
Od
Thank you, Victoria, for getting the point and contributing. It’s lovely to have you here. 🙂
Victoria
Thanks Od. What’s your email address?
Od
jlk172003@yahoo.com. It would be lovely to hear from you. 🙂
Victoria
For clarification sake… I checked the urban dictionary of judging and it said to regard someone as inferior or with contempt and disdain. Christians are not supposed to treat other people as inferior or with contempt . We are to love other people. We can dislike their actions and yes condemn evil practices because we have a standard the Bible which says such practices are wrong. HOWEVER TELLING A PERSON THEY ARE WRONG IS NOT JUDGING even according to the definition I just gave.(I also believe that’s the whole point of Od’s post) It’s interesting how sometimes statements made by Christians when they identify something as being wrong is automatically called judging but when the tables are turned it’s called judging. Let’s endeavor to understand what judging really means.
Snow
What. What urban dictionary link is this? because that is not what i’m seeing
Countess
It’s possible to point something out as wrong without coming off as sanctimonious or self righteous which is something that seems to be very hard for some christians to do. Telling someone who fornicates that they are wrong is not judging but sounding like or thinking that I’m better than them because I don’t fornicate is judging. Telling them off like they are somewhat lesser than me because they sin is me judging and being a sanctimonious prick. And this is where so many of us christians get it wrong.
Christian closet liars and closet fornicators talking to or about a thief but if they check themselves, they’d see that subconconsciously, they think themselves better than that thief. And more often that not, its obvious in their speech when they “correct” said thief. Therein lies the problem.
Od
jlk172003@yahoo.com
Tee boy
It’s getting hot in here…..
*pls don’t judge me*
Mariann
waka pass and side eyeing you pipu…. i will return and give a *robust response* to this…
Ibiela
Jesus!!! How did any of you even gather the strength to read all this? I just can’t today.
Kiki
The comments were even more intriguing than the Post by Od. Wow! I actually read through everyone’s post. not easy i tell u but was worth it.
I don’t have much to say just want to add my 2cents..
Judging as a Christian to me ISN’T BAD! Why it is perceived as bad to most people who wrote here, is because in the real sense when u judge someone about something no matter how nicely u do it will seem as if u are feeling u are better than that person. But truth is sometimes people tell me i’m doing something wrong & advise me to do it like this next time. I take the advise & sometimes do same to others. E.g, When u see an ‘Ashawo’ for instance & u feel sorry for her & u go to her & say i only wish u would stop, u deserve better, i have a boutique & i need someone to help me out if u don’t mind can u take up the role, to be a sales person. I’ll pay u real good, etc. It would seem u re judging to most people. Or how else can u tell someone (christian)something is truly wrong that s/he is doing without seeming judgy?
Victoria
Unfortunately you can’t always tell Kiki. Some people are good at wearing a mask and would be judging you even though they are smiling sweetly. But that’s between them and God. For some, it is clear and is evident in the way they speak and put others down. Some might have your best interests at heart and might not have the best approach. So what’s the way out? First, don’t assume just because someone says something is wrong they are judging you for your choices.
It all boils down to motives. If I tell someone they’re wrong just so I can gloat over it either because I am doing the right things or because I am doing less ‘wrong’ then I am judging. If I point out things that are wrong because of a genuine concern and I proffer solutions then I am not being judgy. I am actually trying to be helpful. So second, ask questions. If you feel judged by someone, call them out on it. It is not enough to just say you feel judged: you need to point it out in concrete terms so they know and can change. Who knows, you may be helping them remove the planks in their eyes…
freakyhijabite
“A Christian is better than a non-christian”
Wow, really? Are you trying to say that non-christians are inferior to Christians? With the insurgency in the north, shouldn’t we be careful with the things we say? Or how is that statement different from what they are proclaiming?
Am just tired of all this “B religion is better than C religion”. People should be allowed to practice whatever religion they want without feeling inferior to any other person or group of people. You were probably assuming that a non-christian can not be of a good moral standard, that a non-christian is a sinner.
I believe judging is wrong in every way, although we do it unconsciously sometimes. @bunmi you took the words right out of my mouth. @thetoolsman Honestly, I think it’s time TNC starts screening what it puts up here. I get the whole express yourself thingy but we should also be considerate of each other’s feelings. You have to remember you have not only Christian readers but Muslims as well…..not forgetting the atheist and traditional worshippers. Just saying.
thetoolsman
Hello, we do screen every single post that goes up on the site multiple times even. We have developed an editorial checklist along side our community rules which all submissions must check before they are published and this post went through the process. While I understand your concern with the statement, it is important that we dont take things out of context. Any member of any other religion is welcome to publish similar views and we will screen just the same way. Beyond screening the posts, even though our comments are not instantly moderated, we have our admins monitoring to see where people go against community rules. Once again, thanks for sharing the concern, I assure you, it’s of utmost importance to us.
K. Rukia
This idea of screening what TNC posts seems misguided to me. If some people really think that Christians are better than everyone else, isn’t it better for them to air their views so they can be challenged? Even if they don’t change their minds, at least we will have the benefit of knowing their position.
I would say the exceptions are when something is clearly inflammatory (as in geared towards inciting violence), or defamatory. Then I’d support screening out such articles ad they are actually dangerous.
D.K
Hi Od. I love how you state your opinions and reservations. You are always very polite and detailed. Most of the time I sit on the fence in conversations like this because it is always tiring to argue endlessly to one who doesn’t share the same beliefs as you. I’ve learnt that as a christian,I need to open my mouth, be bold and make my stand known to many. Well, I have a long way to go as I need to develop myself and invest in my spirit. How do I share the gospel when personally, I don’t know half of what the bible says ? Anyway, it is a learning process for me. All in all, I want to be christ-like and to practice what the word of God says.
Kudos Od. I agree with 95.9% of your views. I hope to read more from you.
Sideline; I like how you and K Rukia argue. she is always polite too and it is refreshing to read/listen to polite arguments.
Od
Thank you for joining us, D.K. I’m glad that I can make any good impression on you. Boldness is a gift we should never cease to pray for as well as utterance especially in these days when doing the wrong thing is more hip than doing the right thing. If we don’t learn to start pushing back at the tide, we may get swept away in the flood of evil that is mounting in intensity everyday. Allow me to encourage you to make sure to use what you do have. Unless you’re faithful with the little you do have, you will not get more and what you do have is at risk of being taken from you. I don’t know the whole Bible either. But I don’t let what I don’t have stop me from putting what I do have to work. God bless you. 🙂
Blaqlotus
JUDGE:
1. To form an opinion or estimation of after careful consideration: judge heights; judging character.
2.
a. Law To hear and decide on in a court of law: judge a case.
b. To pass sentence on; condemn.
c. To act as one appointed to decide the winners of: judge an essay contest.
3. To determine or declare after consideration or deliberation: Most people judged him negligent in performing his duties as a parent.
4. Informal To have as an opinion or assumption; suppose: I judge you’re right.
5. Bible To govern; rule. Used of an ancient Israelite leader.
Christians should be able to judge themselves. Not just Christians, whatever religion or group we have out there. How else can you become better if someone doesn’t call you out when you err. My fellow Christian (who is a better Christian than i am) telling me my faults is only trying to make me better and i wouldn’t see it as judging. except of course i don’t want to be better. Same as a colleague trying to correct my mistakes.
Od
Thank you for joining the discussion, blaqlotus. Your input is excellent. I’ve actually pointed that out elsewhere. We don’t consider it judging when colleagues call us out on our professional errors and suggest ways to do better. But we get our pants in a twist when it’s a moral issue. That is very telling. Thank you for pointing it out.
Zaynab
Okay, i can’t read all these comments, no time. I think i got the gist of it though. Am i missing something, isn’t there a verse in the bible (Corinthians) that says we should judge other believers for accountability but not unbelievers, basically because they are just following their natures? I think the problem here is the idea behind judging comes from a place superiority which isnt always the case. Sometimes it comes from a place of love. Hate to say it but some times people are just plain wrong. I think the context of that verse was that this man had done something wrong and was still in the midst of doing it and no one was saying anything. The point was let him know he’s wrong so he can change and come back. Also, Nigerians are very passionate about religion. Relax.
Od
It’s lovely to have you here, Zainab. You’re right about that part of 1 Corinthians 5. We are told that we cannot judge unbelievers the same way we judge believers. But it doesn’t mean that we will not call evil by its name even with them. A promiscuous unbeliever may never be excommunicated and we may still give him our hospitality when he needs it but we should never approve of his lifestyle. It should be clear where we stand on it even while we are being hospitable to him. Or else we will soon normalize it. This is already the case in today’s world. The swell of evil is not unconnected with the compromising and accommodating behavior of the corporate Christian establishment. Lol, true about Nigerians. So are most other people.
DEJIDOPE
I enjoyed this post, would have said whats on my mind, but i don’t have the energy, and i am sure od and ufuomaee can speak for me.
Cant count the number of times i have been called judgy in the comments section on TNC.