Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you- who are you to judge your neighbor?
James 4:11-12
"Don't be hating! Don't judge me!" Those are some things that people say now. It's true we shouldn't judge each other. But are we getting something mixed up? Is something missing? Are we possibly mixing up judgment and discernment?
Don't be quick to point the finger
I have been thinking of this topic of judgment and discussing it with God, my family and friends. God has been revealing some surprising things I didn't think about.
First of all I noticed that it says brothers, so James was talking to fellow Christians. Then he says do not slander one another. We are not to bad mouth each other. If at work you know some fellow co-worker who are Christians, don't bad mouth them. Talk to them personally on what's bothering you. Same with if it's a family member, friend and even at church. Then James goes into the whole judgment thing. What is he talking about exactly? What James is saying is we cannot judge a persons decisions if they line up with The Truth. Even if we're not sure, we should not tell people that their decision was stupid or that they aren't following what God is saying. Now that is a dangerous place to be. Just like in Romans 14: 2-3 Paul talks about not looking down on one another because of what your faith allows and doesn't allow you to eat. If your brother or sister in Christ tells you that God told them or their family to not watch a certain genre of movies anymore, don't start talking behind their back. Keep it to yourself! Or else you are trying to take the place of judge (God's place). Now the point of discernment and judgment had been blurred.
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or else you may be tempted.
Galatians 6:1
Again Paul addressed "brothers" like James so this is aimed at Christians. Paul is talking about if we actually catch a fellow believer in their sin (or if God reveals it to us) then we are to go to them personally and talk to them. Now we shouldn't do it by telling them that they're a horrible sinner going to Hell if they don't stop. Because of Christ we can't go to Hell but you can drive that person away in your condemnation of them. Like what Paul said, restore them gently. But we do have to be wary that we don't get caught up. Like if you found out your friend was into porn you shouldn't ask them to show you what they look at and watch. Speak the Truth to them and encourage them of the mighty power of God and his redeeming love and forgiveness.
Now when it comes up with unbelievers its just a matter of discernment. Of course it's more touchy because they most likely don't know anything about God or have had bad encounters with Christians. Many people have said that we are to love them. We may think loving non Christians is a matter of accepting someone in their sin and ignoring it. As a matter of fact the very definition of love is not to love evil. Just read 1 Corinthians 13. Love, God's love, is so amazing. Since we are "little Christs" we need to love others in line with God's Word. We should not love the sin but the person God has created. I can't remember where I heard this but this quote is fitting. 'I chose to look at who you are. Not what you've become.' That's how God sees us. Let's take a step of faith to look at the lost like that.
Oh boy! That's a lot of information. I don't know about you but I'm starting to understand more about Judgment and discernment. Dear sister, trust in God's power and love to guide you though life to be sensitive to his voice and have grace with your fellow brothers and sisters and the lost.
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