By Dan
I was sitting with a handful of co-workers one day listening to one of them go on about people judging her. She eventually got to the part where she claimed that God would be her judge and it was not other people's job to judge her. So I chimed in.
"I don't know," I interjected. "I think I'd rather be judged by my fellow sinful human beings than a Holy and Righteous God". She gave no response. The others nodded their heads in agreement, but as if the thought had never before occurred to them, but yet, it made sense.
This attitude of "God will be my judge" -- as if God will judge differently than those mean, self-righteous people do -- seems fairly prevalent in my experience. When I hear people say this I'm usually reminded of Jesus telling us: "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Mt 10:28). Or, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps 111:10, Prv 9:10). Or yet again: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Prv 1:7).
I am personally inclined to think that much of what is deemed "judgment" in our day is actually instruction; as in "it is a sin to live with your boy friend", and the like --instruction. But the real problem with this dangerous attitude is the view of God that it reveals. This god is a created god, nothing more than a figment of the imagination created in the image of mom who can always be counted on to take the side of her little angel no matter what the charge. This is the doting mother god, the new feminine god, the god that is more interested in self-esteem and "your best life now" than salvation, sanctification and Biblical doctrine.
What a contrast to the God of the Bible, the One who says, "This is the judgment: that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed" (Jn 3:19).
12 comments:
Wasn't aware of this site. So true Dan. It is really sad when we see our own flesh and blood living in ways that not only God but we disapprove of. One of the many reasons prayer is my constant companion. it is out of my ability but God is faithful to HIS word and HIS commands and I stand on that - PERIOD.
I think you hit the nail on the head: much of what people call "judging" is in reality instruction, and they just don't like what they hear!
Susan
Thank you. I couldn't agree more.
Glenn
I can recall all the instruction I got as a young heathen, and then chalking it up as judgement. Even then however, even though I wasn't sure there was a God, I can remember not wanting to be judged by him, which, when we give it some thought we generally all can come to taht conclusion. When someone asks me how I'm doing I often answer "better than I deserve". Every once in a while someone will ask me why I would say such a thing. I tell them, "Picture yourself standing before Almighty God. Now, picture yourself telling him that you want all you got coming to you.". I've as yet never met a person who thought that was a good idea.
I am inclined to think that people insisting that others don't judge them know already what they are doing is morally questionable. For instance, a young woman dating a married man balks at the idea that someone might tell her she's wrong.
That's why people get so offended. It's their conscience talking.
I was teaching Sunday School one day and a lady came to pick up her two children. Having never seen her before I asked if she had been attending there long. Her response shocked me. She answered with a question: "Why, do you want to judge me like all those people did in the service"?
Clearly this woman FELT judged. However, I'm positive it wasn't the people in the church doing it for there was no bases to do so. She looked in outward appearance like everyone else in there. That said, it was also clear that there WAS some judging going on... and she was the one doing it.
From R.C. Sproul's book, "The Holiness of God":
"A well-known professional golfer was playing in a tournament with President Gerald Ford, fellow pro Jack Nicklaus, and Billy Graham. After the round was over, one of the other pros on the tour asked, 'Hey, what was it like playing with the President and Billy Graham?' The pro said with disgust, 'I don't need Billy Graham stuffing religion down my throat!' With that he headed for the practice tee. His friend followed, and after the golfer had pounded out his fury on a bucket of golf balls, he asked, 'Was Billy a little rough on you out there?' The pro sighed and said with embarrassment, 'No, he didn't even mention religion.' Astonishingly, Billy Graham had said nothing about God, Jesus, or religion, yet the pro stomped away after the game accusing Billy of trying to ram religion down his throat."
Comment from Glenn (which I accidentally deleted):
That citation is one of my favorite ones from Sproul's book. I have personally encountered what he described Billy Graham encountering.
Don't you just hate it when that happens!
Yeah. I hit the Publish link on the email I received and then I go to delete the email and hit the Delete link rather than the Delete command. Sigh.
I can only respond to that story with this:
"This is the judgment: that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed"
Sure, Dan, go all biblical on us! :)
I think the idea is found in 1 Corinthians, but I'm too lazy to look it up. To the saved, we are a sweet aroma, and to the lost, we are the smell of death. Those who are judged, or feel that way, are only smelling the Spirit in our lives.
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