I can do all this through him who gives me strength
Philippians 4:13
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Matthew 7:1-5
Jesus is forbidding self-righteous condemnation.
The kind of judgment Jesus prohibits is consistently practiced by his followers.
We ALL practice the kind of judgment Jesus prohibits on the regular.
We are to be known for loving like Jesus.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35
Judgement chokes out our love.
Our judgments are often wrong.
Our judgments boomerang back on us.
Our judgments are blasphemous.
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 4:12
Prohibited Krino: Condemnation
Proscribed Krino: Discernment
Bottom Line
The way of Jesus requires us to be discerning without condemning.
Condemnation: assessing people with a posture of self-righteous arrogance
Discernment: assessing things with a posture of humility
Condemnation Krino
- Posture: Pride & Arrogance
- Motive: The elevation of oneself
- Focus: People's value & worth
- Effect: Shames, distances, excludes
- Result: Final word
Discernment Krino
- Posture: Humility & Self-Examination
- Motive: The good of the other
- Focus: Assesses patterns or behaviors
- Effect: Restores, protects, includes
- Result: Invitation to growth
The context for discernment is trusted community.
We all need a trusted discernment community around us.
Action Steps
Prayer
- Do others experience me as more of a loving or a judging person?
- Where is judging others blocking my love for others?
- Who is in my trusted community of discernment?
Practice
- The Daily Judgment Log
At the end of each day, reflect on how much time you spent judging other people. What patterns did you notice? When were you most judgmental? The goal is to wake up to how much judgment is in your life. - The Blessing Challenge
Addictions need to be replaced or substituted with something redemptive. This week try to bless every single person you encounter. Do this mentally—not out loud. Don’t be weird. And every time you catch yourself judging someone else, quickly replace it with a prayer of blessing and love over that person.
