Judgementalism

Matthew 7:1-6 (NIV) 1“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How 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? 5You 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. 6Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.”

Three different types of judgement:

Judgement of Christ on the cross.

Eternal judgement.

Ethical judgements we make in real time regarding human behavior.

Ground rules for judgement:

1. Don’t be a hypocrite when you judge.

See Matthew 23

Romans 2:1 (ESV) Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

2. A believers’ “judgement” ought to be focused on other believers, not unbelievers or outsiders.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (NIV) 9I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

3. The basis of our judgement is sound doctrine.

4. The goal of our judgement is the glory of God.

What we do:

1. Expulsion

2. Exclusion

3. Assimilation

4. Affirmation

Romans 10:14 (CEV) How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them?

What we ought to do:

I am to live a “gospel-responsive” life toward everyone I disagree with.

See 1 Corinthians 8:4-11; Romans 15:1-7; 1 Corinthians 13:4-13

1. Accept people.

Romans 15:1, 7 (NIV) We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. … Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Romans 14:1 (NIV) Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarrelling over disputable matters.

2. Embrace one another in relationship.

It means to get under the weakness of the weak.

3. Love, and keep loving.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

4. Let God be God.

Honor the pace of God in people’s lives.

Growing Deeper Together

Use these points throughout the week as part of your quiet time, in your small group, or over coffee with a friend to help you apply what you learned in today’s message.

• Being judged by someone, especially someone you hope to be in friendship with, is so hurtful. Has there been a time in your life when you expected someone to judge you but were loved and welcomed instead? What a gift; this is how God loves you! As your Creator, he has the right to judge you, but he extends himself in love first. How can you live this week according to his model?

• If it were based on you and your actions, how would people view Christians and the Church? Would they see us as welcoming and loving or harsh and critical? Somewhere in between? Inconsistent? As you think about what Shane said about “gospel-responsiveness”, what steps can you take today to change that perception, one encounter at a time?

• Looking at the final four points, how will focusing first on yourself make the difference in how others view the people of God’s church? Which of these do you struggle with? Spend time praying and journaling, asking God for his help as you grow in each of these.

Pastoral study references & attributions:
The Moral Vision of the New Testament, by Richard B. Hays; The Epistle to the Romans, by Douglas Moo