Disciplined Judgment

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Incorrect Judgments

Judging by the Flesh

Often in my life, I have wrongly looked upon people from a fleshly perspective. Meaning, I have thought in my own mind and heart that I understand what should be right and wrong.
When I do this, I have placed myself as the ultimate judge over the life of another. Fortunately, the remedy for this is to judge by the spirit. From an early age I understood the differences we all go through which shape each one of us. My experiences may persuade me to believe that my way of going through those experiences and coming out of them with some sort of clarity is the only way to do so.
However, my journey is different than each other person’s journey. While it may look similar to another’s path or the experiences may be used to aid another for a short period of their life, the Holy Spirit is the one who aids each person in understanding their place in the kingdom of God.

An Easy Judgment

We often pass a glancing judgment upon people based upon their immediate actions, how they look, or their response to what we have said.
In a world that is so superficial, we collectively do not take the time to understand the nature of other people before passing judgment. We can say we don’t judge others, but it is one of the easiest responses in our mind, our hearts, and our actions to do.
This is part of what happens when we take from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil without referencing the creator from whom all good things come.
We usurp His throne and place ourselves as the one who judges others without referencing the heart of God.
1 Samuel 16:7 NASB95
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
When we look upon the world with only our flesh instead of with the aid of the Spirit, we only see the things of this world without noticing the combined nature of body, spirit, and soul.
Only God can truly see the fullness of a person’s intentions, their spirit, their soul, and therefore implores us to cooperate with Him in passing judgment or relaying constructive criticism.

Only God Understands the Heart

Matthew 7:1 NASB95
“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
Most people stop here. Jesus’ words in the context of those that know they are in a place of needing correction reach out to God’s grace only. They believe that God will not judge their actions or that people have the capability of understanding righteous judgment.
Matthew 7:2 NASB95
“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
However, Jesus then instructs on how to judge properly. He reminds us that each one of us are already under judgment and that when we understand that our hearts are looking out into the world with contentiousness and hate for that which is wrong in the world, we must understand ourselves first.
By what measure are you judging the world?
If you are building yourself upon one measurement and then discipling another person on a different scale, how then will you complete the discipling of another?
Imagine two builders working on the same project that are given two different standards of measurement.
One is using the American Standard in feet and inches while the other is using the majority of what the world uses, the metric system. They are given the same blueprint for design but are not told immediately what measurement system was used to establish the blueprint.
They go on instead working to build the project without consulting one another or the creator of the blueprint.
This is exactly what we do in our spiritual lives. We are building disciples without first noticing how the designer has created the blueprint for our lives.
We must understand that the heart of God is what we are building disciples from.
Not the rules of the church. Not on the other experiences of man and not through neglecting the criticism necessary for building properly.
Matthew 7:3 NASB95
“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
Jesus is speaking to a large group of people here at the sermon on the mount. Immediately after expressing how the people are blessed, He begins to break apart the human attitudes which prevent people from seeing the kingdom of God.
Many people are on a path of condemning in others what they have not overcome themselves.
They continue marching forward on their own path of righteousness instead of following in the steps of Jesus. Jesus had no sin in His life but was tempted just the same as you and I.
In pointing out the faults in others, it is important to understand first that turning to God for the direction and help needed is the first we should do. Have the great physician and healer, Jesus Christ, remove the sin from your own life before going into the world and performing constructive criticism of others.
Romans 3:10 NASB95
as it is written, There is none righteous, not even one;
Matthew 7:4 NASB95
“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?
Matthew 7:5 NASB95
“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Jesus does want us to help our brothers and sisters out. He knows first that we must yield ourselves to having the sin removed from our life before helping others, though. Many of us believe that we have the knowledge to aid others without first working on ourselves.
Many of you are working in the world with your own pain unresolved in your life. This prevents you from clearly having the ability to aid others. Instead, unresolved bitterness resides in your heart and you see the issue in others.
I know myself that a tiny speck of dust in the eye feels like one of the most painful experiences. If I do not remove that then it could fester and I would lose sight.
Jesus reminds us the importance of being made whole before working to make others whole.
Proper discernment with others is only possible once we have our planks removed and our sight restored to the sight with which Jesus sees the world.
Matthew 7:6 NASB95
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
In the steps to understand proper preaching to the world, we are to ask for the discernment, wisdom, and guidance from God to know who God has placed in our lives for discipleship and those who are contentious of the Holy Spirit.
Not all people will welcome the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Although you may have removed your plank and are able to discern the need for others to have theirs removed, remember the Holy Spirit is the only one who is capable of fully changing a person’s heart.

Righteous Judgment

There is a balance in the world needed for judgment. God has given us the Holy Spirit who understands fully the heart of God. Only through prayer, discernment, reliance upon God to restore our sight are we capable of cooperating with Him in reaching out to others.
Our preaching the gospel message automatically is a profession of judgment upon the world.
If there is none righteous and all have turned away, then we have all been judged as condemned. Once we accept that and turn toward the only one who saves from the final judgment we are made part of the kingdom of God.
God’s message to the world is that they do not have to remain in judgment. They are capable now of redemption.

A Church’s Judgment

The body of believers together must learn how to judge properly.
Macdonald lists 6 things a church must do to learn how to judge properly. William Macdonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary 2nd ed., Nashville, TN, 1139-1140.
Settle disputes as they arise in the church (1 Cor. 6:1-8)
Judge serious sins and take appropriate action (Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:9-13).
Judge the doctrinal teaching of teachers and preachers by the Word of God (Matt. 7:15-20; 1 Cor. 14:29; 1 Jn. 4:1).
Discernment if people are truly believers (2 Cor. 6:14).
Judge who has proper qualifications to teach others (1 Tim. 3:1-13).
Discernment of who is weak, fainthearted (1 Thess. 5:14)

Partnering for Peace

Go into the world first knowing that judgment has already come upon us by our sins. It is easy for us to point out the faults in others. Pick the planks from yourself. Place them to the side and partner with the Holy Spirit to plan your journey forward. People who you encounter will have planks themselves which are easy to see.
Until they know how your plank was removed, they may not notice they even have a plank themselves. Properly explain the practice of discipleship. Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection has now prevented your judgment from being permanent. You are now preserved for the Holy Spirit.
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