Judgment, or Discernment?

  

Are you judging others if you have high standards?

Judging means “evaluating” or “comparing two or more similar objects or ideas.”

We create standards (i.e. quality, performance, value) with variations (a sliding scale) of high to low. Everybody has standards, just some higher than others. Typically we reward performance according to standards: greater performance produces higher wages or more benefits. We may have standards that determine who we want to spend our time with, or. How much of our time someone else ‘deserves’. We might call that ‘discernment’. It is a good thing.

In the Bible,  judging in that sense is commanded. Eph 5:11-13 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

“So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.” Job 34:4

You cannot judge something without having something else to compare it against- a standard (unit of measure) that is reliably constant. For Christians, Christ is our example and the Bible records a godly standard for us to follow.  We may join an organization, or not, because those institutional standards do not square with our personal standards.

Nearly everyone is familiar with Matthew 7:1-29 “Judge not, that you be not judged. “ However, MOST do not understand that verse in context and they incorrectly hold that NO kind of judgment is warranted towards another human being. The context provides the meaning. Jesus explains in the next sentence. “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” When you judge someone else to be inferior, based upon your own standards, YOU will be judged as inferior by Christ’s standard. To avoid that, we are exhorted to extend grace, so that we may receive great grace from Christ. Jesus said, But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. (Lu 12:48, NKJV)

I set high standards for myself- so high that I must strive continually to hit those high standards. They are, in some cases, just beyond my reach so that I live a life that continues to reach higher. Using discernment, I choose to surround myself with people likewise hold high standards, and together, we inspire, encourage, and support one another so that in fellowship, we may all become a better version of ourselves. This is one of the functions of the Church, the Body of Christ. Excluding some others from this group is NOT ‘judgment’ (as in eternal damnation) but rather discernment and wisdom.

The other side of that coin is when we are NOT careful about our associations, and we hang with the ‘wrong crowd, we usually get into trouble and make one bad decision after another. Proverbs 13:20 (NASB) says this: “One who walks with wise people will be wise, But a companion of fools will suffer harm.”. I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Here's the rub…if you know people who think you are stuck up, or self-righteous, it is probably because you have standards that are higher than theirs and you accept the wisdom of the proverb. If you have standards that are sometimes just beyond your reach, you are NOT a hypocrite because you fail to meet your own standards. But you WILL be called a hypocrite by the ‘unwise’ in your circle of acquaintances. You will be called ’judgmental’ because you apply those standards across the board and desire that everyone in your circle strive with you to meet those same standards. As in Mat 24:9, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” Further in Mt 5: 11-12, Jesus sad, ¹¹ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  ¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

There you have it. Rejoice and be exceeding glad. Embrace the standard of the cross. Live as unto the Lord. Lift up your heart for your redemption draweth nigh!

Blessings,
John