Carefulness in Judgment

Background Scripture: 2 Chronicles 19; Colossians 3
Lesson Scripture: 2 Chronicles 19:4–11; Colossians 3:12–17

Introduction

In the beginning Satan took advantage of man’s power of choice and asked, “Hath God said?” Since then man has needed to judge between right and wrong. God is a righteous judge, and his Word has much to say about judgment. The Bible is a safe guide in all matters of judgment.

An unjust judge will be inclined to judge with his own interests in mind. He will have a tendency to judge harshly and condemn others or to avoid condemning someone because he will implicate himself. To properly judge spiritual matters, we must have our hearts right with God. Then God’s will becomes paramount to us and we judge accordingly. May we have the humility to judge righteous judgment (John 7:24).

Key Verse

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God (2 Sam. 23:3).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, had been a close ally of wicked King Ahab of Israel. While on a royal visit to Samaria, Jehoshaphat agreed to join in battle with Ahab and his army. After consulting with the prophet of the Lord, Ahab felt a sense of pending doom and disguised himself as a common soldier going into the battlefield. This effort to protect himself did not thwart the judgment of God on his sinful life. Upon returning to Jerusalem, a prophet of the Lord reproved Jehoshaphat for having joined affinity with an ungodly king who hated the Lord. King Jehoshaphat repented and journeyed from the southern tip to the northern tip of Judah, preaching repentance to the people, leading them back to the Lord.

With the hearts of the people once again set on God, the king went about to appoint judges throughout the land. These men were exhorted to judge faithfully because they were doing it for the Lord. The judging of ecclesiastical matters was under the oversight of the chief priest, and the ruler of the house of Judah was the overseer of civil matters.

We may be inclined to feel negative when our actions are judged, yet when judgment is directed by the Lord, it is always positive and helpful. When the peace of God rules in the heart, self is crucified, allowing a clearer view of what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Charity does not overlook sin but kindly and patiently points the sinner to the Savior.

Practical Truths for Today

To judge is to form an opinion on a matter by carefully weighing evidence and testing the principle involved. Discernment is another term we use to describe judgment. To judge can also mean to form a negative opinion about something or to condemn.

Judgment is an integral part of our daily lives. He who drives his car defensively is constantly judging his surroundings: the distance between himself and the vehicle ahead, the road conditions, the behavior of other drivers, and the intentions of wildlife approaching the roadway. If he condemns another driver for some apparent thoughtless action, his spirit may be stirred, thus impairing his ability to properly discern other conditions around him. Road rage is an extreme example of what can happen when one driver harshly judges another.

We may attempt to use Jesus’s words, “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matt. 7:1), to excuse ourselves from fulfilling our baptismal vows to give and take reproof. We may also use them to justify discounting what someone says who is trying to help us on our spiritual journey. The reading of this passage in Luke 6:37 includes “condemn not,” which is helpful in understanding the meaning.

Jesus also said, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). As mere mortals, we are not able to see into another person’s heart. We cannot see the deep desire to be accepted of God, the intense battle against temptation, or the bitter regret caused by failure. We see the outward appearance of the one disgraced by sin. To see into the heart of a struggling one, we need to sit where they sit and patiently listen to them. “Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?” (John 7:51). Perhaps when repulsed by sinful actions, we fear that to lend a listening ear will be interpreted as supporting the wrong. May we have the grace to listen to someone in love and then point him to the Savior.

“But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man” (1 Cor. 2:15). A Christian is careful to judge his own life first. He examines his own spirit as he is tested by the circumstances of life. He seeks to live above reproach. Christian parents want their family to be in the mainstream of the church. The modern world offers many things that appeal to the flesh, and we must “by reason of use have [our] senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14). Activities and things considered worldly a few generations ago are making their appearance among the people of God.

What is a generational change and what is a drift in doctrine become questions the Christian must honestly judge. His mind is not closed, but he honestly tests the value of new trends, measuring their effects on his devotion to God. He does not want to be in bondage to the vain things of life, realizing there is a risk of being brought under their power. He is careful not to condemn others, yet he is ready to speak his heart as opportunity affords. Open sharing with brethren is a source of inspiration and gives direction. We find security in offering our conviction and listening to others; in this way we allow our lives to be examined by others. In the Christian era some things may be considered lawful, but are they expedient? (1 Cor. 6:12). The true believer is circumspect, cautious, and habitually proves “what is acceptable unto the Lord” (Eph. 5:10).

Within the church, pronouncing judgment on a fellow member’s life is not committed to an individual but to the body of Christ. While it is true that the leaders usually give a proving, it is the congregation who decides whether the individual in question is in the grace of God. In the case of church sanctions being lifted or the proving of converts, the matter is presented to the brotherhood, and the individual is given opportunity to share his heart. The members of a caring congregation will involve themselves in the proving by asking pertinent questions and listening to the heart rather than merely to the words. The members show their proving by way of a vote. The proving of the majority becomes the judgment of the church. This judgment is accepted in all congregations of the conference. It is not a light matter for an individual member to discount such a proving.

In the church of God, it is important that judgment is made without partiality. Charity is an essential element when the church judges a matter. Charity does not overlook or deny the presence of sin; charity seeks to identify sin so that the sinner can be pointed to the remedy in Christ. “Love that is warm and glowing will put the best construction on all evil reports. Charity will not accept an evil report unless it is confirmed by two or three witnesses. Until then, it should not be accepted as truth; neither should it be rejected as an untruth; rather, it should be left for confirmation . . . Charity accepts facts but will not be influenced by evil reports before facts are established.” 1

We often pass judgment on things we see or hear. But what we have heard may be only part of the picture. In order to be objective in our proving of a matter we need to be careful that we are not too personally involved. “A man who has had his sins revealed to him and repented and . . . made righteous by the blood of Christ . . . seeks to judge impartially. He seeks to investigate everything as thoroughly as he can, so that he can pass a righteous judgment. A person with a self-righteous spirit is ready to judge before knowing the whole matter; to hear one side of a dispute or quarrel is enough for him. Alexander the Great had such a regard for justice that he laid his hand on one ear while hearing an accuser to put him in mind that he would reserve the other ear to hear the accused person. The example condemns many Christian professors, who pass their judgment on hearing but one side of a matter.” 2 We must remember that even though a judgment on transgression may be accurate, mercy rejoices against judgment (James 2:13).

Questions

1. Discuss the need for careful counsel and open sharing as we subject our lives to the righteous judgment of God.
2. How can we avoid being judgmental and yet not have a “live and let live” attitude?
3. What is the root cause of criticalness?
4. Give a present-day example of mercy rejoicing against judgment (James 2:13).
5. 1 Reuben Koehn (1907–1995), Selected Editorials, p. 470
6. 2 John Holdeman (1832–1900), A Treatise on Magistracy and War, Millennium, and Holiness and the Manifestation of Spirits, 1928 edition, pp. 196–197; also found in John Holdeman, Life, Labors, Legacy, pp. 346–347
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).