The Right to Judge

S -"You judge in the same way that everyone else does, but I don’t judge anyone." John 8 TS

O -This statement of Jesus was made to the Religious Experts of his day. These leaders were skilled in the Scriptures and in the traditions dating back to Moses. Their "information base" was quite different from the Roman Empire which ruled over them. It was very different than that of the multitude of religions and cultures that were a part of first century Palestine.  Yet, they are completely mistaken and the problem identified is twofold.  First of all, they were judging; something Jesus says is not to be engaged before the end of the age.  And when it is employed, none of us will be the ones doing the judging. Secondly, having opposed and refused the first prohibition, these experts engage judging just like everyone else. Their conclusions are not the conclusions of heaven and are not superior to others. The right to judge has NOTHING to do with the accuracy of one's information base or the veracity of one's opinions (legal, religious, spiritual, cultural or otherwise). The right to judge has been given to only one human being and he's deferred all judgment to the end.  He expects his followers to follow his instruction: "Don’t judge others, and God won’t judge you. Don’t be hard on others, and God won’t be hard on you. Forgive others, and God will forgive you. If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated." Luke 6 TS

    

A -Following the Jesus sent by heaven is always simple but not always easy.  It is a formidable challenge to refuse judging others when one's information is accurate. Nevertheless, his instruction is crystal clear on this point. Earth thinks the most important thing is saying it out loud.  Heaven thinks that's not it at all. Jesus wants me to live each day as his work site not as a part of a work crew.  I'm the project not the project manager. All truth that is made clear to me has one intended purpose … that it would be lived out loud in my life. With Jesus, it's always the beam in my own eye not the sawdust in another's. Paul puts it this way: "God isn’t like anything that humans have thought up and made … now he says that everyone everywhere must change their thinking. He has set a day when he will judge the world’s people with equity. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death." Acts 17 TS

P -Lord who is the judge of all,

I accept your instruction and want to live it out loud.  I am very grateful to be one of the 7.6 billion projects you are working on day by day.  I regret all judgements I have made against others. I need help with the beam in my own eye.  I admit there is only one judge.  You lead, I'll follow.

Steve