JUDGE NOT?

"It is better to have eyes for beauty--than for blemish. It is better to be able to see the roses--than the thorns. It is better to have learned to look for things to commend in others--than for things to condemn. Of course, other people have faults--and we are not blind to them. But then, we have faults of our own--and this should make us charitable!" ~ J.R. Miller, 1894.

Absolutely! Who would not agree with that? I would much rather look at a Cymbidium than a cesspool. But we SEE both don't we? How we react in either instance can define character, both Christian and otherwise. We (true believers) should be able to read character, or… discern spirits, if you will, and to know whether men's behavior and/or intentions are good or bad. As we watch how people behave, we cannot help but form opinions about them.

The more holy we become in Christ, the more acute and perceptive our moral judgments will be. This is probably where many people would say, "That's not our job". No… it's not our "job". It is precisely when it becomes "our job" that we get into trouble. It is not a career, not a profession, certainly not a calling, but we have not been told to shut our eyes. We are not made blind to people's faults and sins... Christians or not. But it is how we respond, how we behave in those circumstances… those moments of judgments, that commend us or condemn us. It is our heart (and theirs) which is held accountable.

As clearly as there are Christians and non-Christians in the world (although that IS becoming blurred), there is right and there is wrong; good and bad; black and white (I'm not much for "grey-areas"); holy and evil; eternal and temporal; love and hate. Each one of us makes "judgments" in these areas everyday, or we live in the cocoon of ignorance (not an option for Christians). The most important judgment you will ever make (or have made) is whether YOU are a Christian… or NOT! Going to church does not make one a Christian, no more than standing in a garage makes one a car... as the saying goes. I would then say, the second most important judgment you (believer) make is… WHO is not a Christian, and be careful in any associations with them… including family. Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Eph. 5:11

So let us understand about judgments and judging. I did not say, "let us TRY to understand"… I said, "let us understand". Jesus said,
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" Matt. 7:1 and 2.
We so often leave the second verse out. And we should also consider verses 5 and 6. Would you like to read this passage in the NIV? Not to give it any standing (oops, I'm judging again) …but, "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".

Same verses including up to verse 5 (I hate to even print this, from the translation called "the message" but, I need to make my point)…
"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor".
I do NOT print this in RED because I do NOT consider it the Word of God.

This is probably NOT why we are where we are today, with so many people being unjustly condemned for righteous judgments, but it is of the same mentality. It disgusts me. It is a way of getting rid of "religious morality" because religious morality condemns sin. The less ecumenical (embracing of all religions) a person is, the greater the condemnation for "judging."

These verses in "the message" are negative. It addresses something "he" has interpreted as negative and it condemns "judging" across the board. That's wrong! These passages in "the message" are a very personal, anti-truth interpretation. They are intended solely to minimize the condemnation of sin. It is the same spirit that has dumped "legitimized homosexuality" on our doorstep and no one did anything about it. Those that read this book have no idea (obviously) what a terrible disservice they do to themselves. Hey… have at it. I am fully aware that there are those who will never "get it". You know… those who do not have ears? My goodness folks… there is a whole book in the Bible called "JUDGES", whose [principal theme is "Failure through Compromise", which is in contrast to the main theme in the Book of Joshua which was "Victory through Faith". The Book of Judges is a commentary on the nature and characteristics of spiritual apostasy] ~ Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ. 
God uses 13 men over a period of 305 years to deliver Israel after the death of Joshua because,
"every man did that which was right in his own eyes" Judges 17:6.
That's what "the message" has done…re-written the Bible to make it "right" in his own eyes.

Dr. Scofield's introductory notes say,
[The book records seven apostasies, seven servitudes to seven heathen nations, seven deliverances. The spiritual parallel is found in the history of the professing church since the Apostles, in the rise of sects and the lost sense of the unity of the one body, 1 Corinthians 12:12,13].
We better read Hosea 4:6 and make sure it does not apply to you.

I am going to share what I feel I should share about what Matthew 7:1-2 means. I believe it encompasses every implication and ramification with regard to judging… negative AND positive, remembering what I said above… "I (me personally) would much rather look at a Cymbidium than a cesspool".
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
First of all, this is NOT a verse or sentence that can stand by itself. For those who will never look up this word, I include the description from the Interlinear … [Krino: to separate; put asunder; to pick out; select; choose; to approve; esteem; to prefer; to be of opinion; deem; think; to determine; resolve; decree; to judge; to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong; to be judged, i.e. summoned to trial that one's case may be examined and judgment passed upon it; … 
I separate the following which I believe is inappropriate for us as Christians…
…to pronounce judgment; to subject to censure; of those who act the part of judges or arbiters in matters of common life, or pass judgment on the deeds and words of others; to rule; govern; to preside over with the power of giving judicial decisions, because it was the prerogative of kings and rulers to pass judgment; to contend together; of warriors and combatants; to dispute in a forensic sense; to go to law; have suit at law]. This word Krino is translated as judge, determine, condemn, go to law, call in question, and esteem in the Bible. Now… I would ask you, do you think anyone who would never judge (positive or negative) can escape judgment? If a person could live obeying just that one scripture… do you think they would never be judged? I'll leave you to ponder your answer.

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged…
So up to this point, we have "Consider this… do not judge because you will be judged in the same way that you judge". The exhortation is, "Be prepared to be judged yourself by the same criteria you use to judge". So if you "judge" ...if one makes determinations; if one comes to conclusions; if one selects the right from the wrong; if one pronounces an opinion concerning right and wrong; if one displays approval or suggests separation… if one does all that, (which we are expected to do otherwise, why are you studying the Word of God) out of love and in mercy, then that same criteria will be used in judgment of yourself. God wants us to be loving toward one another and merciful and compassionate. He also wants us to demonstrate these qualities to the world, but NOT to the extent that we love the world or compromise with it. The world needs to see our resolve and commitment to non-compromise when it comes to Holiness, otherwise it has seduced and compromised you, see verse 6.

and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again…
How much love I demonstrate, and how much mercy and compassion I display will be the same measure applied to me, when I am judged. What was God's judgment of David? I'll leave you to ponder your answer. If one does not know how to voice opinions mercifully, or how to offer a word of correction out of love… always for the purpose of restoration or edification, then one should probably not consider themselves a "judge over the people". Chances are, that one still has way too big "a sliver in his own eye" to remove the speck from someone else's eye. If you blindly condemn, you are blindly condemned… if you lovingly exhort and correct, you will be lovingly corrected. It is in your heart to do good. If a Christian esteems his brother or sister better than himself (and one can only do this by the love of God in Christ, in you), what would that Christian desire above all else for them? What do you desire for them? I think it should be - To Be Perfected in Christ. Would you lay down your life for your brother or sister? But you should not point out error???
Lord grant that we might abound in love more and more, 1 Thess. 3:12-13.