Tag Archives: judging

They Deserved It

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Genesis 34-35

Rather than repenting of their sinful act of revenge, Simeon and Levi justified the murder of hundreds of men with, “They deserved it.”

It’s tempting to think the same when we hear that guy at work who took credit for your idea is getting a divorce, or when that reckless driver who lives down the street gets in a car accident, or when that childhood bully who made seventh grade miserable for you gets cancer. These days there are some who think people deserve to have their cars blown up, or an assassin’s bullet aimed at a man’s head simply because they have different opinions than their’s. Wanting revenge isn’t a new phenomenon. But it gets a lot of press these days.

Remember when your mom used to tell you, “Two wrongs don’t make a right?” She wasn’t wrong! That scale never levels out. The question still remains: who made you judge and jury?

Bad things happen in this life. There are bad people in the world. There are crimes that should be punished according to Scripture and the law of the land. But there is only one ultimate Judge. And you are not He!

God will judge every individual with righteousness according to His character. Some people will deserve His wrath and the punishment for their unrepented sins. Others, like me and I hope you, will face the judge wearing His own righteousness and hear Him declare that our sin debt is paid in full.

Life is too short to plan to get even with someone, or to even waste time hoping something bad happens to someone who you think has wronged you. It’s not your job to try to balance a scale that cannot be balanced. It’s not your job to dole out punishment to someone who has hurt you.

Honestly, I think the best way to handle the hurt you feel or the wrong that has been done against you, according to Scripture, is submit to God. Take a step back from the situation. Breathe. Pray. And trust God who does all things well. My experience is that when I turn it over to the Lord, I am free. A burden is lifted. Thoughts of revenge are replaced by peace. And whether or not that person gets what I think he or she deserves doesn’t matter any more.

Whew!

In fact, my prayers become, “Lord, Don’t give her what I think she deserves. I pray that Jesus will get what He deserves, and that is her heart.”

In the end, it’s not about what we think anyone deserves. It’s about what God deserves for dying on the cross for our sins… and the sins of the people we are struggling with. He will get what He deserves in the end. And that’s the way it should be.

November 3 – You Are Not the Judge Of Me. And I Am Not The Judge Of You.

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Mark 11; John 12

The speed limit is clearly marked 70 MPH. If you pass me going 90, do I judge you if I say you’ve broken the law? Do I judge you when I call you a thief, if you break into my home and take my TV? If you have sex with your neighbor’s wife, am I judging you if I tell you you are guilty of adultery?

Jesus says, in John 12:47, “If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” Does that mean we are not to identify sin in ourselves and others? After all, if Jesus Himself didn’t come to judge them, who do we think we are?

Jesus didn’t stop with verse 47. Verse 48 says, “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.”

The reason Jesus didn’t come to judge the world was that He had already laid down the Law, and clearly said Law-breakers are guilty. Their own actions demand a guilty verdict.

As Christians, we should not refrain from identifying sin in ourselves and others. Jesus said He knew that God’s commandment is eternal life. The opposite of that is true, too. Breaking God’s commandment, rejecting Jesus, is eternal hell.

It’s that serious. We who know the truth need to be telling it. When Jesus said people will be judged “at the last day,” He was giving us fair warning. Shouldn’t we be doing the same for our friends and loved ones who are living their lives as though there was no Judge?

God, Your children have buckled under the pressure of Satan’s lies. Your children have all too often adopted the “Don’t judge” mantra as meaning we should step back and let people do what they want. Forgive us. Humble us. Give us courage to stand up for the Truth of Your Word, to recognize sin, to speak up. Otherwise, how will people even know they need a Savior?

October 7

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Luke 6:17-49, 7:1-10, 11-17; Matthew 8:5-13; John 4:46b-54

I think one of the most misinterpreted verses these days is Luke 6:37.

Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.

So often we are told “Don’t judge”. But is God telling us we are not to recognize sin? That doesn’t even make sense in light of all of Scripture. How can the God who commands holiness of his people also tell us not to recognize sin? That’s foolishness.

Is adultery a sin? I can say without hesitation – yes. Is murder a sin? Absolutely. What about homosexuality, greed, gluttony, lying, idol worship, dishonesty? Without a doubt. 

So if I say to a gay friend that their lifestyle is sinful am I judging them? I didn’t make the law. God did. God makes it clear he judges sin. And don’t even think for a minute that he creates any of us to sin. I would be wrong if I didn’t try to turn my friend from sin by pointing it out in love.

If I point out to my married friend that her affair with a male co-worker is wrong , am I judging her? What about a neighbor who beats his children or a son who lies? Do I turn a blind eye because I am afraid someone will accuse me of judging them?

However, if I befriend a lesbian or have dinner with a friend who is an atheist – don’t judge me. If I go into a bar with an unsaved friend – don’t condemn me. If God has asked me to invest myself in their lives in order to bring them to him, that’s something you cannot know.

Christian, we need to stand for the Truth of Scripture. There are serious consequences for sin as spelled out in God’s Word. It is our responsibility to warn people of those consequences and point them to the Savior.

And… don’t use verses 41-45 as an excuse not to confront someone. If there is sin in your life – a plank in your eye – you need to confess it and get right with the Lord. Whether or not you witness to a friend you need to confess sin. Period. But you also have a job to do. Your friend who has no interest in the God of the Bible or who has twisted Scripture to rationalize sin is going to hell. Do you understand that? I didn’t make that up. I’m not judging them. They are already judged by their actions.

I know this is not a popular subject these days and it certainly is not politically correct in our “tolerant” society. But ignoring sin in ourselves or in the lives of our loved ones doesn’t change God. He is serious about sin. I pray that we will be as well.