It is a phrase we are all familiar with. In fact, sometimes I think these might be the most well-known – and most often quoted – words of Jesus. “Judge not, that you be not be judged. For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged.” (Matthew 7.1-2)
I am certain that Jesus is here using the word ‘judge” or “judgement” as “critical” or “criticism”. He is saying something like, “Don’t be constantly expressing adverse or disapproving comments of others, or you will find others doing the same of you.” In this regard he is wisely urging his followers not to have a pharisaical attitude of constantly condemning and reproving others. Afterall, it should be clear that all of us individually are included when we are told that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3.23)
I also find it ironic that Jesus, shortly after he tells us not to judge others, goes on to say, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7.15) It seems to me calling someone a “false prophet” is a judgement call, so what is Jesus doing? Are we called to be judgmental or not?
This all leads up to the question, “Is our God judgmental or not?” And does he want his people to be judgmental as we are “conformed to the image of his Son”? (Romans 8.29) And today I am going to say to you, “yes, ours is a judgmental God, but not in the way I first discussed.”
I already quoted Romans 3.23, but it is important to always include the verse that follows. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3.23-24) A judge, you know, does not just condemn people. He also acquits them, “judging” (or declaring) them to be not guilty. Thus, while we tend to use the term “judgmental” to mean expressing condemnation or disapproval of others, today I am suggesting we are called to flip the term over and be “judgmental” toward others by blessing them and telling them how they are “justified by God’s grace” just as Jesus did to the woman caught in adultery (John 8.11)
Perhaps tying the most well-known verse of the bible together with the one that follows it will help to clarify what I am saying about being judgmental. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3.16-17) God’s intent is never to curse or condemn. It is always to bless, or save, … you and me, and everyone we meet.
Words of condemnation drive people down. Words of blessing lift people up. And what has he who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14.6) come to do? The answer: “Not to condemn us to hell, but to lift us up into his gracious, generous, joyous, peaceful presence.” Therefore, “speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” (Ephesians 4.15) … by sharing, through word and deed, the message of John 3.16-17 with all. After all, this is what our judgmental God came into the world to do. If you doubt me, I suggest you spend a little time in Romans 5.
When I was a child, in the wintertime we used to play a game called “King of the Hill.” The objective was to be on the top of the snow pile. In order to be there, you needed to climb as fast as you could to the top and then replace whoever had gotten there before you. While racing to the top, one would ignore all the others doing the same. It was only when you got to the top did you focus upon pushing “the king” down from the top. Thus, all the action took place at the top of the hill.
In recent years, or so it seems to me, the strategy of the game has changed in an unfortunate way. Instead of ignoring everyone else until we got to the top of the hill, people are more focused upon keeping others below them than they are on climbing to the top. The net result is that everyone is located at the bottom, with no one on the top! It is this strategy that Jesus is criticizing as he says, “Judge not, that you be not be judged. For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged.” (Matthew 7.1-2)
This is our judgmental God’s strategy for getting the world out of the gutter. He stepped into our gutter, not to keep us there, but to lift us up … to bless us … “for God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Now, isn’t this a totally different way of being judgmental and “speaking the truth in love”? And it just so happens to be the way of “our judgmental God”!
Our Judgmental God