Sermon Tone Analysis

Clearly Judging

I was somewhere last week and someone mentioned that I was the youngest pastor they’ve ever seen in the Christian Church.

I felt judged.

So I grew a goatee.

I grew a goatee to prove that I am older.

Actually, I just hit puberty.

Just kidding, I grew a goatee because my 6 year old daughter asked me to.

My age has always been one of the hardest things for people to pin down on me, I think.

I have always had the comment, you look really young.

I joked with the guy (who said I’m the youngest pastor he’d seen) and said, yea First Christian Church hired me when I was in the crib and here I am now.

Do I feel judged when people say I look young, yeah... but does it bother me?

No... because when you all, my age, are old and gray I wouldn’t have aged a bit! HA!

Just kidding… but in all seriousness...

If there was a frequently misquoted Scripture list for Christians, this one would be on it!

If there was a frequently misquoted Scripture list for non-believers, this one would probably be at the top of the list!

Why is this?

Well I don’t want to judge… okay I will.

It’s because those people who misquote it do not go deeper into the context to see what Jesus really means.

Today we’re going to do that and hopefully by doing this we’ll get the right perspective on this particular passage.

Open with me to

Matthew 7:1-6

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

(V.1)

In this verses simplest meaning we can look to

We get a picture that James is saying the same thing here that Jesus said in our passage today.

Clearly judging is not to declare someone guilty, but to allow God to be the only true judge.

Hypercritical is not a spiritual gift! (Explain…)

To be a judge, we need to know the law.

To be a judge over peoples spiritual lives we must know the entire law.

God invented the law and has more authority than us, so we would lose every single time.

Sermon over!

What are some ways we judge others?

Tattoos and piercings- the only laws were for the OT Levitical Law and it was for the Israelites.

Inter-racial relationships- you wouldn’t think this is a thing but racism is a huge issue, right here in our town!

We judge those who ask for help- us pastors are the probably the worst (Filled up the gas tank, money handlers at Anderson Walmart)

Drinking alcohol in moderation- The Bible only mentions not to get drunk.

Politics- How many of your friends have you unfollowed on Facebook over this stupid issue?

I got news for us all- Jesus was not white, he was not an American, he wasn’t affiliated with any political party- in fact he didn’t hang out with the self righteous, he hung out more with the people we would probably never vote for.

Don’t allow politics to rule your life and ruin your closest friendships!)

Clothing/Dress style

Parenting- (No one was a perfect parent, including yourself, so pray for us parents today… please!)

Fill in the blank...

Romans 14 discusses how we can often become a stumbling block to our brother or sister in Christ.

We all have our convictions in life but I love what Paul says here in the middle of his chapter…

READ Romans 14:8-23

Paul explains what we were just talking about so well.

Basically we all have our own convictions in life and with right reasons.

Shouldn’t we discern what our tattoo will be about and if it would lead people to Christ or away?

Shouldn’t relationships be more important than color or ethnicity?

We judge those asking for help but do we take the time to hear their story?

Shouldn’t we use common sense to not drink in front of someone who struggles with being an alcoholic?

Politics… yea.

Parenting- don’t we stop for a minute and think of how hard it really was and try to put yourself in their shoes today and offer help or the very least… prayer?

All things in life require our discernment but first we need to realize that if we judge others, we too are opening ourselves up for judgement before the Lord.

The reality is that we need to make judgement calls in life.

How we will parent.

What products we will buy.

Hiring and firing employees.

Who we will be friends with.

Etc..

As believers we have a responsibility to discern throughout our lives what will be pleasing to the Lord and to build others up.

Today, because most people do not believe in absolute truth everything can be considered judging.

“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (V. 1)

Clearly judging others involves first examining our own hearts and lives before others.

READ Romans 3:9-20 (Explain…)

READ Romans 2:1-16

We must understand the gospel message and allow God to change us first through His son Jesus.

We will all stand accountable before God at the end of our lives, we should be concerned with our own choices before others.

Transformation starts in our heart and the outflow is grace toward others.

READ PAGE 711 (COMMENTARY ON WORK)

Amen!

These verses continue to prove that we must first examine our own hearts and lives before we look at other people’s lives.

So here’s an interesting question.

As a believer, should we never judge?

We’ve already talked about using discernment and judging what choices to make in our own lives, but what about that controversial topic of not judging others?

Let’s start with those who have chosen to not believe in God’s Word or follow Jesus.

I would first off say that we are not to judge and unbeliever because they are not a follower of Jesus.

With that said, the only truth we can discuss with them is justification by faith, through Jesus Christ.

It’s the gospel.

The unbeliever can not understand any other doctrines, because they have not allowed the gospel of Jesus Christ to change their hearts.

Want to know why so many people have not come to Christ?

The church over the years has done a horrible job at witnessing to them.

Ghandi even said, “I don’t like the Christian but I love their Christ.”

The global church has a lot of people who love the idea of following Jesus but love judging others, and making them feel horrible about themselves more.

Those people need to… TAKE OUT THE PLANK!

But as a believer when should we judge?

We should judge our fellow brother or sister in Christ in order to keep them from sin.

If they do not listen you take the next steps as laid out in Matthew 18.

Is this to condemn the person?

No!

It is to restore them back to their relationship with God.

What is the biggest excuse we don’t help our fellow Christians in their sin?

We say, “We’re all sinners, who am I to judge!”

That is wrong thinking.

If you had a life saver and your friend was drowning would you throw them an anchor?

Neither should we neglect an opportunity to help them get back on track, in love and grace!

We also might avoid confronting other believers who are in sin because we don’t want to ruin our friendships.

Or worse, we want to see them fail so that we look better standing next to them in front of other people!

The average Christian might hear your words and say, you’re clearly judging and I don’t like it!

The mature Christian would say you are clearly judging and I want to thank you for showing grace and love to me like Christ would.