COMPROMISES IN JUDGMENT

1. Some time ago a syndicated columnist wrote an article entitled “Shunning Moral Judgments.”

2. This author affirmed that we live in a time when people are hesitant to condemn things.

3. There are college students who do not want to condemn what Germany did to the Jews.

4. Others don’t want to pass judgment on the people who commit crimes.

5. We are faced with a problem known as moral relativism.

6. There seems to be a phobia when it comes to making judgments.

7. This problem is faced at nearly every level in society.

8. Some in our government have been asked judgments about obscenity and pornography.

9. In at least some cases the response has been, “We don’t know how to define obscenity.”

10. “How can we determine what pornography is?”

11. Many are either scared of making judgments or simply unwilling to make them.

12. When Christians make judgments about issues in the world they are often condemned.

13. The people of God are sometimes told that making judgments is unkind, unloving, & wrong.

THIS MORNING I WANT TO PRESENT SOME INFORMATION ABOUT JUDGMENT.

A. One of the most well known passages that deals with this topic is Mt. 7:1.

B. This passage was read for the scripture reading.

C. People who are almost totally unfamiliar w/scripture know this passage.

D. Many non-religious people can quote the opening verse in Mt. 7.

E. Many who are familiar with this verse know how the chapter starts but this is all they know.

F. The information in Mt. 7:1 is not the complete picture.

G. Jesus made this statement and then added some additional details.

H. If this verse is lifted out of context we are left with the impression that judgment is always wrong.

I. There are some who use this passage to condemn nearly all forms of judgment.

J. Even some religious people try to use this verse to say that making judgments is sinful.

2. A few years ago a gospel preacher (a member of the church) started a new cong. in Northern Indiana.

A. This man said that he would only preach “positive sermons” at this new congregation.

B. He did not want to deal with material that required judgments or disapproval.

C. There are people who appreciate him for his stance.

D. People come to hear him preach and they like him.

E. I wonder what God thinks of such a man.

F. Does God want His people to go through life avoiding judgments and making decisions about things?

G. I know of another preacher who recently called a congregation to inquire about a preaching position.

H. The minister who made this phone call said that he excelled at evangelism.

I. This is his specialty. He practically claimed to be an expert on evangelism.

J. The place where he was leaving from had grown by leaps and bounds.

K. He attributed the tremendous growth to non-judgmental preaching.

L. In Mt. 7:1this is not what Jesus meant with the words.

M. The first verse of this chapter simply introduces the thought.

N. The following verses show that Jesus spoke of a specific kind of judgment.

O. Notice verses 3-5 – READ.

P. Jesus did condemn judgment (verse 1).

Q. The additional verses show that He had in mind a specific kind of judgment.

R. The Lord described judgment that is fault finding and hypocritical.

S. Jesus condemned the kind of judge who judges others while neglecting their own problems.

3. When most people quote or apply Mt. 7:1 they improperly use the passage.

4. The Lord never condemned making judgments; He condemned unjust judgments.

5. A good cross-reference for Mt. 7:1 is Jn. 7:24.

6. What Jesus said in our next passage was not new information to the people who heard it.

7. The Old Testament (Deut. 1:16) had taught God’s people to make judgments.

A. By the time of Deut. 1 the nation of Israel had become very large.

B. The size of the Hebrew nation required that additional people made judgments about things.

C. In both testaments we find that God has authorized His people to make judgments.

D. Here is what Jesus said in Jn. 7:24 – READ.

E. Are we allowed to judge things? Yes.

F. We are not allowed to be the kind of judge described in Mt. 7:1-5.

G. Some want to tell others about small matters when they themselves are overwhelmed with problems and sins.

H. God’s people are entitled to make “righteous” judgments.

I. This is an instruction from the Lord.

8. What is a “righteous” judgment?

9. Thayer says it is “rendering to each his due” (p. 149).

10. He added that this also means “passing just (emphasis mine) judgment on others” (same page).

11. Hypocritical and fault finding judgment (Mt. 7:1-3) is wrong.

12. Just judgment is right. In fact, the characters of the Bible illustrate just judgment.

13. John the Baptist was a preacher who made some just judgments.

A. In Mt. 3:2 he told people to “repent.”

B. John said that people were guilty of sin and they needed to shape up.

C. John then made some other judgments (Lk. 3).

D. He said that if people had two coats (the inner garment that kept people warm), they were to share.

E. In our day and time people would say, “What right did he have to say that?”

F. How could he judge what was right and what was wrong?

G. By himself John had no right or authority to tell people what to do.

H. John was speaking for God.

I. He was judging “righteous judgment” and thus had heaven’s approval and authority.

14. The tax collectors (Lk. 3:13) were guilty of extortion.

15. John made a judgment about their actions.

16. He said that they were extortioners. He said that these men were crooked.

17. My favorite part of this chapter, though, is verse 19.

18. John went to the man who ruled over Galilee.

19. He went to a public official who was a ruler.

A. This ruler was Herod Antipas.

B. John knew that Antipas had pulled a fast one.

C. Antipas had taken a trip to see his half brother (Philip).

D. While Antipas was in the home of Philip he became pretty fond of Philip’s wife.

E. Even though Antipcas was married, he wanted his half-brother’s wife (Herodias)..

E. Herodias was willing to leave her husband for Antipas.

F. Some conditions were agreed upon and these two people got married.

20. In our climate of non-judgmentalism we might hear, “I wouldn’t do that but they are adults.”

21. “As long as they are happy; that’s what counts.”

22. “I don’t want to judge them.”

23. Folks, John the Baptist did not believe in moral relativism. It was not “I’m okay, you’re okay.”

24. Notice what is said in the text --Verse 19 of Lk. 3 – READ.

25. John rendered a judgment.

26. John said that the union between Antipas and Herodias was unlawful.

27. He said that these two people were not lawfully married (Mk. 6:18).

28. The rest of the verse in Lk. 3 provides us with an even juicier detail.

29. John spoke to Antipas about “all the evil things” he had done.

30. John the Baptist—a man who pleased God—made “righteous” judgments.

31. Some of the people in the world didn’t appreciate him, but God sure loved him.

AS WE LOOK AT THE BIBLE WE FIND AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT GOD’S PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO MAKE AND ARE EVEN OBLIGATED TO MAKE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS.

A. One of the places where this point is emphasized is Rom. 14:13.

B. In Romans 14 Paul dealt with matters of judgment.

C. Earlier this month I was put into a rather unpleasant position.

D. Two Christians (not from here) were sitting in the same room.

E. These brethren had a disagreement over a particular issue.

F. Neither had become factious or hateful about the matter, but both had a very firm point of view.

G. The matter over which they disagreed did not involve any point of doctrine.

H. These men are in agreement in matters relating to the church, salvation, worship, etc.

I. These men asked for my view on a certain topic.

32. I believed as one of the two men did but my belief didn’t matter.

33. What they were asking about is a matter of judgment.

34. Thus, “righteous” judgment had to be as Paul described.

35. Here is what he said in Rom. 14:13 – READ.

36. Some issues in life are matters of individual opinion and judgment.

37. In these areas of life we have no right to judge others.

38. There are some issues where each person is entitled to his or her own opinion.

39. In other areas of life we are not dealing with opinions.

40. In these other areas we are entitled and duty bound to make judgments.

41. Listen to 1 Cor. 6:2 – READ.

42. Christians are not the ultimate judge.

43. According to Rom. 14 we have no right to judge in areas of opinions.

44. When God’s will applies to a particular matter, we can (1 Cor. 6:2) make judgments on these things.

45. We need to make judgments on these things.

46. This is especially clear from the next verse in 1 Cor. 6 (verse 3) – READ.

47. Later in 1 Cor. 10:15 Paul said “judge” what I say.

On every hand society may tell us that judgments are wrong and unloving. We may hear from the world that making moral and other types of judgments is unkind and even hateful.

A. The bible repeatedly shows (by direct statement and example) that judgment is right.

B. There are some limitations.

C. These limitations must be observed.

D. We must also observe the need to make judgments.

E. If we are a Christian we cannot compromise in the area of judgment.

There are times when the world stands up and renders judgments.

We have heard of the 16 year old who was slammed on the hood of a police car in CA.

Some of the very people who condemn judgments have now made their own judgment.

People are clamoring for the officers involved in the CA incident to be fired and even jailed.

Is it not interesting that many of the people who condemn us for judging have made a judgment?

Those who voice opposition to our making judgments are guilty of the very thing they condemn.

If we are going to be a Christian we must be willing to stand up and make judgments.

We are obligated to make righteous judgments.

When Christians use and follow God’s word their judgment will be righteous.

Are we a Christian?