Psalm 82; Matthew 7:1-5; James 3:6-10

Judging! Everyone seems to have an opinion on the subject. Few want to give up what they believe is their right to judge anything or anyone. Recall the incident about six years ago. An American teenager was caught for spray painting some cars in Singapore. The punishment: six strokes across his bare bottom with a rattan cane. "How barbaric!" came the cry from his parents, our government leaders and other people who judged the way officials of Singapore punished offenders for some offenses. Events or people that do things that go against our understanding of justice brings cries. "Who do they think they are?" "How dare they!" "They are wrong. I’ll do what I want!" "Call my attorney!"

The World Series reminds us that the umpires control baseball. Referees control football. But who hasn’t judged these judges wrong when the "call" goes against our team? We like our own opinion, our own judgment on things or persons, to stand, even when we have nothing to do with the action. Judging. It is in the Church of Jesus Christ where judging seems to be most challenging. For there we see a critical, harsh spirit rise up.

Judging with a critical or harsh spirit, keeps many people out of the Church. A late friend of ours, Perry Desmond from New Orleans, was billed in his own club as the "prettiest woman in New Orleans." Active in the world of the homosexual, he thought he was a woman trapped in a man’s body. He was famous, rich and hurting. Through a long process of prayer and discussion and conviction by the Holy Spirit, Perry entered a church that ministered in his area, wearing his only clothes - women’s. "What do you want, Perry?" "I want Jesus in my life!" "You can have Jesus in your life, and we’ll even baptize you, but you can’t stay with us. You’re too controversial." Rejected, he turned his night club into his own store-front ministry. He gave away clothes and food from his own savings account. He shared the love of Christ to others caught in homosexual activity of the love of Jesus. He turned a critical spirit to the glory of God! Judging!

When that critical spirit hits a church, people get hurt. There are some who have no business in the lives of others. Yet, they love to spread rumors and lies. How to kill a church. Some even use scripture to back up their actions. Of those read today, which would they choose? Contradiction: "Don’t judge, lest you be judged." Jesus was asked to referee a family feud. "Who made me a judge or arbiter over you?" When He healed a man on the Sabbath, He told the people to "not judge according to appearances, but with righteous judgment." "God judges in the midst of the judges."(Ps 82) "To judge or not to judge- that is the question?"

Contradiction? Confusion? Is there a way to determine when to judge or not to judge? Here is the easiest guide that I can give you. Judging is a function of ruling or authority. Ask yourself: When must I rule? That is where I am required to judge. WHEN YOU...

Remember, Jesus Christ is Lord, not president. We are part of His Kingdom. Sorry, it is not a democracy. We did not "vote" Jesus into office. He "voted" for us to enter into His Kingdom. He expects us to obey Him. Remember His last commandment? "Love one another!" He did not say, judge one another. He is the ultimate judge. He placed rulers in His Kingdom to see that we obey Him and love one another. I want us to grow in our love and obedience to Jesus Christ. I want us to grow in our love for each other. Learn to judge God’s way. We will make a stronger more loving church. We are always asked to make some kind of judgment. Let’s try God’s way.

We all must judge some things. The Greek word for Judge is Krimo and Kritis. We must gather accurate information. Then, we can make an INFORMED DECISION. "I’ve made up my mind, don’t confuse me with the facts," does not help. Better we live up to the other saying: "Put brain in gear before putting mouth in motion." Say that a religious group comes to town. Members of their religion knock at your door and tell you about their spiritual leader. They are polite and informed, but not pushy. You listen to their message. Then begin to DISCERN, DECIDE BETWEEN, or TEST/APPROVE.

DISCERN- Paul, Silas and Timothy with Luke told about Jesus to the people of Berea, who "received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so." (Acts 17.11) They DISCERNED (ana-krino)...considered carefully from Scripture. "The spiritual man discerns all things.." (I Cor 2.15) They went over material and held it up to the Word of God. Good judgment always uses the Word of God.

DECIDE BETWEEN - Paul wondered at the leaders in Corinth when there was trouble and the city courts were brought in to settle the matter. "Isn’t there one of you who can decide between brothers?" (I Cor 6.15) DECIDE BETWEEN, differentiate, weigh carefully (dia-krino). Are you quick to take sides? Then, it is difficult to decide between two wounded parties.

TEST/APPROVE - (Dokimadzo) by the Word and Holy Spirit. When the church at Corinth met for worship and the Lord’s Supper, they were told to "examine himself... for if we have judged ourselves rightly, we should not be judged." (I Cor 11.28,31) "Examine everything carefully, hold on to that which is good." (I Thess 5.21)

Now, put this into a logical process. We discern and separate and arrange information we can gather. We test all of it to the Word of God. Then, we can make a judgment. But really, how often does anyone take that kind of care about making judgments? If we did, non-Christian cults would fail miserably!

When we fail to make sound judgments, it is because too often some people like gossip, or rumor, or lies about other people. Somehow, it makes them feel better about another person’s mistakes, real or imagined. Paul called them "busybodies." (2 Thess 3.11) Peter called those people "meddlers." (I Peter 4.15)

Now, you might be saying to yourself, "Boy, I wish ‘So-and-So’ was here to listen." You hear them say the good ol’ American way. "I don’t judge others, but I have a right to my opinion...I should be able to speak my mind...I have my rights, you know!" That attitude is very expensive. I have a short check list for that person who should be here, but also for us here today. It is a list for those of us who judge when we have no right to do so.

I could be wrongly judging ... when their failure...

1-IMPROVES MY OPINION OF MYSELF

2-DECREASES CONCERN OVER MY OWN FAULTS

3-MAKES ME WANT THEM PUNISHED

4-EXCITES ME TO TELL OTHERS

5-REMINDS ME OF THEIR PAST FAILURES

6-TELLS ME I CANNOT FORGIVE

That kind of judging,

1-CONDEMNS IN OTHERS WHAT IS TOO OFTEN IN US.

2-FORMS OPINIONS, THEN FINDS EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE JUDGMENT.

3-MAKES PUBLIC WHAT SHOULD BE KEPT PRIVATE

4-TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY

5-KNOWS NO LIMITS.

Begin at the cross of Jesus Christ. There we see righteous judgment laid upon Jesus that should have been ours. While we were sinners, Christ died for us. We were saved from His wrath! (Romans 5) If we begin at the cross, we might help restore a brother or sister in trouble. How can we judge? Here is a checklist:

1-Check the accuracy of the story - go to the source!

2-Deal privately with the person.

3-Affirm the person publicly, or remain silent!

4-Limit yourself - when in doubt, speak against those who want to judge and destroy.

Who can we judge? If you know people who like to judge, there is hope for them. They do have areas that must be constantly judged. Here is a partial list.

1-Begin with yourself. (I Cor 11.28)

2-If you are a parent, you can rule over your family. (Eph 6)

3-If you are an employer, or manager with people under your direction. (I Tim 6.1,2)

4-If you are an official in our government. (Rom 13.1)

5-If you are an elected church leader. (Heb 13.17)

We cannot judge...

1-Other believers

2-Other believers’ children

3-Other churches

4-Government officials

I encourage you to take steps to protect the reputation of Jesus Christ and His Church. It is included in your bulletin, entitled, I WILL GIVE A GOOD REPORT. James wrote to those who wanted to control themselves and what they said. Using James 3.6-10, the discipline helps to guard attitudes and words that may judge other people. I know I must be constantly alert about my attitudes and words that might be judging others, especially in the Christian Church.

I will protect others and their reputations in my conversation. If I cannot give a good report, I will remain quiet, pray for them, and look for ways to restore their reputations.

I enlist the following mature Christian(s) to help me stay accountable to God for my words of judgment, and to pray with me for victory over my untamed tongue.

________ _________ ____________

Daily, I will,

dedicate my heart and tongue to the Lord (Romans 12.1)

Tune my heart to God’s heart in the Word (Psalm 119.9,13)

Be responsible for my words (Matthew 5.21,22)

Ask forgiveness for any unloving word or attitudes. (Matthew 5.23,24)

Who knows? Perhaps this message will start a wonderful flow of love that needed release from all of us. Leave the judging to God and the loving from us to each other.