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Judge With Righteous Judgment
By Glen Young

The ability to reason from observable evidences to reach a conclusion is God given. We refer to this ability, as man's freewill to choose. The ability to reason manifests itself every time we make a judgment about a person or thing. Therefore, with this ability there comes grave responsibility. It is so serious a responsibility that there are admonitions in scripture warning us to judge with righteous judgment.

Jesus warns, "Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment." (John 7:24) Jesus' statement implies that mankind will make judgments from time to time. These judgments are to be made upon whether or not an action or thing is acceptable to God (righteous). Peter and John challenged the Sanhedrin of their day to judge if it was right to obey God rather than man (Acts 4:19). Paul asked the Corinthian brethren the rhetorical question; "Do not ye judge them that are within?" (1 Corinthians 5:12) He then instructs Christians not to go to law against one another but to let brethren judge in any legal dispute that may arise (1 Corinthians 6:1-8). In 1 Corinthians 10:15 Paul continues by saying, "I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say." He then charges the brethren to judge whether it is seemly [correct] for a Christian woman to pray to God unveiled (1 Corinthians 11:13). It is undeniable that men can and do make judgments. Hence, those who would be righteous must judge with righteous judgment.

When Jesus said that we are not to judge according to appearance, He was warning us not to make judgments before we have understood all the evidence. Paul makes this point concerning his own stewardship as an apostle of the Lord. In first Corinthians chapter four, he encourages them to accept him as a steward of the mysteries of God (1). He then says a steward must be found faithful (2). Next, he addresses the possibility that man's judgment can be faulty by saying, "But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord." (3-4) Paul knew that judgment without understanding could be faulty, hence his statement about man's judgment. His own judgment of his stewardship did not justify i.e. declare him righteous. Only the Lord can justify. The reason man's judgment may be faulty is because of his propensity for prejudice (Proverbs 24:23).

Paul concludes the thought by saying, "Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God." (5) The way righteous judgments are made is by considering the evidence as Paul illustrates with the judgment of the Lord.

Jesus warns us about making judgments, which are not righteous. He 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 unto you." (Matthew 7:1-2)

Man's judgment is tainted by prejudice when he measures others by a standard he does not apply to himself. Jesus' warning is that the measure with, which you judge others, is the measure He will use to judge you. Whatever we require of others, we must be willing to apply to ourselves.

Paul describes this sad state of affairs when he penned, "Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judges another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practice the same things." (Romans 2:1) Man is left without excuse before God when he sets the standard for others higher than he is willing to go himself.

The failure to judge righteous judgment hinders the cause of Christ. It causes non-Christians to view Christians as hypocrites. It stops local churches from growing by forbidding the establishment of elders and deacons. This happens when men are examined for these works and found unfit because of an improper understanding of the qualifications. And not only this, your soul will be lost eternally!