Don’t we have the right to judge at all?
Matthew 7:1-5
“Do not judge lest you be judged. For the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
The Lord said, “Do not judge lest you be judged.” Yes it is true, but don’t we have the right to judge at all? Preaching God’s Word resembles in every respect as judging. Preaching the Good News (the gospel) is actually also preaching against sin and unrighteousness, so it is clear that we are in the act of judging when we boldly preach the truth. And because no one is without sin then no one is qualified to preach God’s Word at all. We seem to be facing a big problem here because all believers in Christ are in fact commanded by the Lord himself to preach the gospel. (Mark 6:15) “Go into the entire world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
This phrase, “Do not Judge” will be used by the devil and his advocates to prevent Christians to boldly preach and teach the truth. Most charismatic Christians would say, “Just preach salvation but don’t teach doctrines. Let the Holy Spirit take care of that. People will come to know the truth later on.” No way! It’s a lie from the devil! I have done this for 20 years with my charismatic friend but nothing happened. He still clings to his old religious practices of worshipping idols. Although the Holy Spirit is the God of power, He will not convict an individual unless someone will preach and teach that person God’s pure Word boldly. That is why the Lord’s command is not only to preach but also to make disciples and that means to teach the right doctrine. Preach salvation and teach pure Biblical doctrine.
I have wasted years of my life being a slave to different kinds of religious beliefs seriously believing that it was the real thing. But by God’s grace I came to know the truth from someone who preached the truth and through reading the Bible, and I just can’t help but feel enraged as I think of the precious time I wasted and realize all the people who had also been blinded and enslaved along with me. That’s the reason why I have this burning desire to preach God’s Word even to the point of risking my own life in harm’s way because I know the many possible dangers of proclaiming the truth. Preaching with such remarkable passion against these wrong doctrines is unmistakably judging others. But do I have to close my mouth?
Just like Ezekiel, he has the obligation to warn the house of Israel and not to the rest of the human race. In the same manner, there are those whom God had given the obligation to warn all who profess to be Christians but possess wrong doctrines. We must not shy away and keep silent about the truth; otherwise we will be accountable before God.
EZEKIEL 3:18-19
“When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die’; and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet if you have warned the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself.” Luke 12:48, “Everyone who has been given much shall much be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”
We are not to judge because we are all sinners. But who then will be qualified to preach God’s Word? The answer is to first take the log out from our own eyes so that we can clearly see the speck that needed to be taken out of other people’s eyes.
The most effective way in preaching against sin comes from a sinner himself whose life had been changed. If someone is preaching against sin but his life has not been transformed, then he becomes a hypocrite. If our lives do not match to what we preach, then God’s name will be blasphemed among the unbelievers.
ROMANS 2:21-24
“You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, through your breaking the law, do you dishonor God? For “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” just as it is written.
The Lord will not give us a task to do without providing the means for us to be qualified. Genuine repentance from every single sin in our heart is to be confessed to God. Asking the Lord for His forgiveness and His grace to change our lives is highly important and very critical for us to seriously consider. God has the power to change every single soul who genuinely repents from all his sins. That is how to take the log out from our own eyes. What else does this verse means?
The danger of a man who takes pride of his good works and moral ways, and then will try to preach the Word is prone to be arrogant and self-righteous. But a vile wicked sinner whose life had been changed by the grace of God will be compassionate and kind in heart in preaching and teaching God’s Word though boldly and courageously proclaiming the truth.
Now don’t we have the right to judge at all? Yes we do. But we need to take first the log out from our own eyes. Genuine repentance in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the answer.
Continue to read the topic: “Giving forgiveness and not giving money”
