Who's The Judge?

Intro

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Judging

A lady in an airport bought a book to read and a package of cookies to eat while she waited for her plane. After she had taken her seat in the terminal and gotten engrossed in her book, she noticed that the man one seat away from her was fumbling to open the package of cookies on the seat between them. She was so shocked that a stranger would eat her cookies that she didn’t really know what to do, so she just reached over and took one of the cookies and ate it. The man didn’t say anything but soon reached over and took another. Well, the woman wasn’t going to let him eat them all, so she took another, too. When they were down to one cookie, the man reached over, broke the cookie in half, and got up and left. The lady couldn’t believe the man’s nerve, but soon the announcement came to board the plane.

Once the woman was aboard, still angry at the man’s audacity and puzzling over the incident, she reached into her purse for a tissue. It suddenly dawned on her that she really shouldn’t judge people too harshly—for there in her purse lay her still-unopened package of cookies.725

In our society today judging is a real problem. There are questions that need to be asked. What does it mean to judge? Who is right and who is wrong?

What does it mean to judge?

One case, Two Judges:

If I commit murder and the judge is sitting at the bench and states to me “What you did was wrong, please don’t do that” and bangs his gavel and then leaves. Have I been judged?

If I commit murder and the judge is sitting at the bench and states to me “What you did is wrong, you are guilty, and face punishment of life in prison without parole” and then bangs the gavel. Have I been judged?

Matthew 7:15–20 NRSV

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.

Galatians 6:1 NRSV

1 My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted.

Romans 14:4 NRSV

4 Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

When is the right time to judge?

Who is right and who is wrong?

God has all authority, it is He who decides what is right and wrong.

Judgments In The Church Today

Church

Multiple Song Leaders

Praise Dancers not involved with public worship

Preachers not wearing suits

Home

Wife/Husband must be a cheat if ________

Children are dumb based on grades

Government

Republicans are evil because

Democrats are evil because

President is this because

Social Media/Life

Someone stinks at school they must

Someone said such and such is a harlot

All people from the north are...

We judge people’s final destinations based on things that are not against the will of God all the time. If God has not spoken on something and you do not know 100% what that person has in their heart let it go! Paul writes to a church in Rome that is dealing with a similar issue. And he begins in chapter 12 with teaching them how to live life as Christians.

Are We Welcoming?

Romans 14:1 NRSV

1 Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions.

What Were They Judging?

Romans 14:2–6 NRSV

2 Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. 3 Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. 5 Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. 6 Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.

rom 14 2-

We Are Not Our Own

Our standard for life is not set by us...

Paul Explains Who They Belong To

rom 14 7-1

Romans 14:7–12 NRSV

7 We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” 12 So then, each of us will be accountable to God.

Conclusion

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Judging

Judge not.

The workings of the mind and heart

Thou canst not see.

What looks to thy dim eyes as stain

In God’s pure light may only be a scar,

Bought from some well-won field

Where thou wouldst only faint and yield.724