Don't Judge Me

"Christian: I walk by the rule of my Master; you walk by the rude working of your own fancies. You are counted thieves already, by the Lord of the Way; therefore I doubt you will not be found true at the end of the Way. You came in by yourselves, without His direction; and will go out by yourselves, without His mercy. To this they gave him but little answer; only they told him look to himself. Then I saw that they continued walking without much conference with each other; but that these two men told Christian, that they were as good as he; therefore, said they, we don't see any difference from you and us but by only the coat that is on your back, which was, as we think, given to you by some of your neighbors, to hide the shame of your nakedness." John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

Christian has run into two men who have climbed over the wall to gain access to the Way. By their self effort they think think they should be accept at the end of the journey as well as Christian will be. Christian was invited and directed to the path that he is on. It was by mercy and grace that he is where he is. The men did not want to hear any negative responses from Christian. They pretty much told him to take care of himself and they would worry about themselves.

"Judge not, that you be not judged." Matthew 7:1 


Does this mean we are not to make a judgement on anyone? Are we to accept everyone and anyone, no matter what they may do or believe? Is this what God wants His children to do?


"For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brothers eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" Matthew 7:2-5


I believe it is the attitude that God is interesting in. Are you judging or correcting. Are you knocking someone else and forgetting your situation? Are you seeking reconciliation or division? 

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses." Matthew 18:15-17 


Another example is seeking to defend the defenseless. We must be careful that we don't pickup someone else offense, but there are examples of Godly defense. 


"Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabbath." James 5


What have we learned? God is to do the judging. We are to share and help convince what is right and wrong. We are to admonish, reprove, rebuke. We are to encourage others to be better, nudge, prod, and exhort. The differences is what is in the heart. Is there love and humility?


"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." II Timothy 4:1-2


"Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." James 5:20