5 Mistakes When Judging Someone Biblically

5 Mistakes When Judging Someone Biblically Introduction

Matthew Vander Els from Founded In Truth Fellowship introduces a Bible teaching focused on the complexities of judging others from a biblical perspective. The teaching begins with a personal anecdote about his family getting sick and a reflection on his late grandmother, Cynthia, and her unconventional choice of colorful masks, highlighting how easily we can form assumptions without knowing the full story. The core message of this teaching revolves around the idea that while assessments and evaluations might be necessary in certain contexts, making judgmental assumptions and condemning others is a dangerous habit for believers. The speaker emphasizes that Yeshua (Jesus) had strong words against judgmental people, particularly the religious leaders of his time. This teaching will explore five common mistakes people make when judging others biblically.

The Problem with Judgment

The teaching highlights our human tendency to not only make assumptions about others but also to build entire narratives based on these assumptions, often leading to criticism and judgment. This behavior often stems from a desire to elevate our own status by lowering others. The scripture from Matthew 7:1-5 is central to this discussion, where Yeshua commands, "Judge not, that you be not judged". He uses the powerful imagery of a speck in someone else's eye compared to a log in our own to illustrate the hypocrisy of pointing out others' flaws while ignoring our own significant shortcomings. Our tendency towards judgment echoes the temptation in the Garden of Eden, where humanity sought to discern good and evil autonomously from God, positioning themselves as the ultimate arbiters of right and wrong. This act of judgment devalues others and implies a lack of trust in God's ultimate judgment.

Navigating Judgment Biblically

While we are cautioned against judgmental condemnation, the teaching acknowledges that evaluation and discernment are sometimes necessary. For instance, we need to be able to identify false prophets. Paul also makes stern judgments within the church in situations involving blatant sin. The key distinction lies in the motivation and the spirit behind our assessments. Biblical judgment, when necessary, should be rooted in love, seek reconciliation and healing, and aim for the betterment of others, rather than destruction or condemnation. The love of Yeshua should guide any form of judgment.

Five Mistakes When Judging Someone Biblically Mistake Number 5: Failing to Realize How Terrible We Are at Judging People

One of the most significant mistakes we make is underestimating our own inability to judge others accurately. We often judge from a place of ignorance, lacking complete information about someone's life, experiences, and motivations. A personal story is shared about the speaker's assumptions about a man he encountered at a Neil deGrasse Tyson event. Based on the man's appearance and the language he was speaking, the speaker quickly fabricated a stereotypical narrative about him being a poor, recent immigrant. However, upon speaking with the man, he discovered he was a highly educated chemical engineer from Ethiopia who had lived in the US for decades. This humbling experience illustrates how easily our assumptions can be wrong and how we tend to project our own biases and perspectives onto others. Even when someone appears to be a "sinner," we still lack the full picture of their struggles, their past, and the reasons behind their actions.

Mistake Number 4: Forgetting That We Don't Have to Have an Opinion About Everything and Everyone

Another common mistake is feeling compelled to form and express an opinion on every matter and every person we encounter. We are not required to have a judgment on every situation or individual. The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius is quoted, emphasizing that we always have the option of having no opinion and that we shouldn't trouble our souls over things we can't control. We don't need to nitpick and constantly find fault with others. The world, influenced by Satan, often pushes us to take sides and view those who disagree as enemies. However, we don't have to participate in every debate or offer our unsolicited opinions. Random people we see are not asking for our judgment. We are not entitled to have people as an audience for our opinions. Choosing not to judge unnecessarily is a sign of maturity and helps us maintain our own well-being.

Mistake Number 3: Forgetting Who We Are and Who We Are Not

We often forget our own limitations and assume a role that belongs to God alone. James 4:11-12 warns against slandering and judging our brothers and sisters. When we judge others, we speak against the law (likely the Royal Law of loving our neighbor as ourselves) and sit in judgment upon it. There is