When our Lord Jesus Christ tells us not to judge others, he is not endorsing moral flabbiness. Wrong is still wrong and right is still right. Murder is still sinful, and so is adultery. The context of Matthew 7:1 makes this clear. We must discern false prophets who are wolves in sheep's clothing. We must discern "dogs" and "swine." We must not be deceived about others or human evil.
What we are warned against is unmerciful, self-righteous judging: looking down on others as if we ourselves are completely pure. Our great trouble is that we have the amazing ability to focus on the minor faults of others while ignoring our own glaring sins completely.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 warns us of our inability to evaluate ourselves accurately -- and therefore anyone else -- before the Day, the Day set by God when people's motives and all extenuating circumstances will be known by all. Then, and then only, will judgment be truly just. Until then we must be kind and merciful and refrain from imputing motives and intentions to others as if we truly knew them.
Above all things, we must NEVER say, "I would never do that." When we sit in judgment of others that way, we are inviting God to pull back his gracious restraints and allow us to fall into deep sin.
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After serving Grace Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Louisiana, Bob was honorably retired on Sunday, September 27, 2015, and given the title "Pastor Emeritus." This was forty years to the day after he became their pastor.
He now works for the Presbytery of the Gulf South as...
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