My Weekly Rant

Why do us Christians hate correction. We are we so fast to say to those who are giving us Godly advice, "Stop Judging Me!", or "Those who are without sin cast the first stone.", or my favourite, "Judge not lest ye be judged". I know the approach that we take may turn off others, but should that mean we should stop, if we truly love someone, I say no. However let's take a look at this word Judgement.

To find out what judgement means we must first find out what the root word judge means. The Miriam-Webster Dictionary defines judgement as:

: one who makes judgments: such as

a: a public official authorized to decide questions brought before a court

b: one appointed to decide in a contest or competition : UMPIRE

c: one who gives an authoritative opinion

d: CRITIC

e Often capitalized : a tribal hero exercising leadership among the Hebrews after the death of Joshua

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

1: to form an opinion about through careful weighing of evidence and testing of premises 2: to form an estimate or evaluation of trying to judge the amount of time required especially : to form a negative opinion about shouldn't judge him because of his accent 3: to hold as an opinion : GUESS, THINKI judge she knew what she was doing 4: to sit in judgment on : TRY judge a case 5: to determine or pronounce after inquiry and deliberation: They judged him guilty. 6: GOVERN, RULE —used of a Hebrew tribal leader intransitive verb 1: to form an opinion 2: to decide as a judge

It further goes on to define judgement as:

: the process of forming an opinion or evaluation by discerning and comparing

careful judgment of the odds

b: an opinion or estimate so formed

is not worth doing in my judgment

2a: the capacity for judging : DISCERNMENT

be guided by your own judgment

showing poor judgment

b: the exercise of this capacity

a situation requiring careful judgment

3a: a formal utterance of an authoritative opinion

b: an opinion so pronounced

4a: a formal decision given by a court

b(1): an obligation (such as a debt) created by the decree of a court

(2): a certificate evidencing such a decree

5acapitalized : the final judging of humankind by God

sinners awaiting Judgment or

b: a divine sentence or decision

specifically : a calamity held to be sent by God

believed their bad luck to be a judgment upon them

6: a proposition stating something believed or asserted

So when Jesus said in not to judge in Matthew 7 1-6 what did he mean. Let's go to the original language. The word for judge is the Greek word Krino. This means to condemn. So Jesus was telling his disciples not to condemn. We can see this in Luke 6:

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Luke 6:37-38

(ESV)

So what does the word condemn mean, Webster's definition:

1: to declare to be reprehensible, wrong, or evil usually after weighing evidence and without reservation

a policy widely condemned as racist

2a: to pronounce guilty : CONVICT

b: SENTENCE, DOOM

condemn a prisoner to die

3: to adjudge unfit for use or consumption

condemn an old apartment building

4: to declare convertible to public use under the right of eminent domain

So what was was the context of Jesus words lets go to the original language Ancient Greek: Katakrino which could be translated as damned. So he was telling his disciples not to condemn anyone to hell because of their transgressions. Or to tell someone they are doing wrong whilst we are habitual offenders of the same sin, he was telling them not be hypocrites. Jesus never said not to call out wrong doings.

“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. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Matthew 18:15-17

(ESV)

​Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted

Galatians 6:1

(ESV)

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 5:1-5

(ESV)

So as you see the child of God is allowed to call out sin whenever it arises, and although the person or even you may not want to hear it because it shows us our imperfections, think as it as Christ calling you to repent. We sometimes blind to our own actions and may need outside help. So when someone approaches us to tell us we are going wrong listen with a kind ear, reflect and pray. But what do I know this is just a rant.