- Matthew 7:1-2
[ Judging Others ] "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.
- Luke 6:37
[ Judging Others ] "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. - John 12:47
"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. - Romans 2:1
[ God's Righteous Judgment ] You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. - Romans 14:10
You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.
- 1 Corinthians 5:13
God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."
- 1 Corinthians 6:2
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?
1 Corinthians 6:1-3 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 6 (Whole Chapter)
I think contextually and culturally there is a lot for me to learn about when these words were written. They need to be read along-side the "judge not" verses. They are also about lawsuits and overt wickedness that would tear apart the church, not the humanity and general brokenness that we all find ourselves in from time to time.
Ug. But those caveats don't seem to help when a local church starts using these verses to decide who is in or out. The use of these verses to say who is "in" and who is "out" is making the larger church sick.
Another ramification of this is that why would anyone voice anything they are struggling with, or let themselves be loved in community, if these verses are being pulled out. It seems to me all these verses do is compel people to keep their mouths shut. And that's not what I think church is supposed to be either.
4 comments:
Two things. Firstly, I'm still trying to figure out what you mean by the use of the word "cheviot" - I've never heard that word before so I looked it up and I don't get it. Is there a common meaning that I'm not aware of?
Secondly, there's a phrase I read somewhere.. "by our own actions and inactions we only have ourselves to blame when our own genocide occurs." And I think this has something to do with the misuse of judgment within the church to expel people - so I'm not sure the rest of the parishioners are supposed to sit quietly while someone sets a moral tone that is bigoted.. unless everyone is deciding, collectively, that bigotry is ordained by their God - but, of course, I'd highlight that is collective belief decided upon by people – there’s nothing divine about it – it’s a singularly human decision. Secondly, a line from one of my favorite movies, Boondock Saints... "We must all fear evil men, but there is one thing that we should fear more and that is the indifference of good men."
Opps. LOL. I changed cheviots to caveats. That's what happens when I go and post quickly.
On your other comments. I feel this shishy, ill, fearful, anxiety when I think of saying something in the one situation where this is happening.
Any judgment towards me? I have some judgment towards me. . .
That's so funny.. yes, that makes more sense... I kept thinking.. "I don't understand what unhorned sheeps have to do with any of this!"
On the other issue.. I think both situation are icky, personally. I understand the church has some strange ideas about divorce, etc., but I think if things aren't working out between two people, God understands. The other situation, well, you know I think it's just crazy.
Do I judge you? That's such a difficult question. On some level I judge everyone, including myself. I'm not a religious person, I don't really believe in "God" - but if I did, I would say that God gave us the ability to think, reason and act and like this dude said in some NPR show I listened to.. "and we need to use those abilities to the glory of God." And that ability to reason includes the ability to discern right from wrong, good from bad. I don't know what I achieve, for example, to not judge the actions of a pedophile. In my mind, that's unforgivable. I'm not talking kids consensually experimenting with one another - I'm talking adults and children. It's patently wrong and unforgivable, for example. I have the ability to reason that that's heinous and I don't have much compunction about establishing a judgement. So yes, I judge.
Do I judge "you" - I suppose I do. I think I'm supposed to, actually. Do I think you're "wrong" for not speaking out against something that you perceive to be an injustice in a community that you affiliate with. Sure. I also understand not doing it, and not always wanting to do it. I see things I don't like in my communities all the time - I don't always speak out against all of them nor do I "bear witness" for everyone whom I see injustice being done to. So I think yes, you are wrong if you feel you are betraying what you believe in - if what you see is wrong and you don't speak and act in accordance with your principals... but at the same time, I know I'm similarly wrong near daily - it's doesn't make it less wrong because others do it too. It doesn't make it more defensible. It just is. And what it is is wrong.
I think there's something insideous about trying to reliquish the notion of "judgment" - it's like praying for some kind of ethical paralysis. Having a moral compass, using it to judge, refining it, re-inventing it, deliberating and developing it.. that's a "good" thing I think. The kind of judgment I find "evil" is the unexamined kind.. the kind where someone else tells you what's right and wrong and unquestioningly you swallow it.
Judgment born from spoon fed morality I don't think a great deal of. But that is rubbing right up against my issues with Christianity, and really religion in general.. and that's getting a bit off topic.
Did that answer your question?
I hear you. I think that addresses my question. I am finding is that I've been in a years long mental wrestling match with the concept of judgment in general. On a personal psychological-emotional level I think it makes me less healthy or coherent, yet judgment on a justice front or right/wrong front is important... There's always so much to think about...which I think is your point?
Here's the quote I liked from your comments:
"I think there's something insidious about trying to reliquish the notion of "judgment" - it's like praying for some kind of ethical paralysis...The kind of judgment I find "evil" is the unexamined kind... the kind where someone else tells you what's right and wrong and unquestioningly you swallow it."
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