Today just as the predominant philosophy of Western
civilization is post modernism, so also we see such a philosophy being
played out among those who called themselves "Christians" whose most
common response to criticism is "Judge not and you shall not be judged". This being taken from Jesus sermon on the mount. This they interpret to mean that it is sinful to say anything negative about anyone, and that the measure of one's love is by one's toleration of
other people's sinfulness. Yet both Jesus and his apostles give us
examples and instructions so much to the contrary of such an
interpretation that it appears such "Christians" have not bothered to
consider the implications of what they're saying in light of what the
rest of the Bible says on the subject. "Judge not and you shall not be judged"
has become the catch phrase among Biblically illiterate Christians in
response to any statements which make them feel bad, even if such states
are quotes from the Bible itself. Indeed I find such "Christians" avoid
any rational dialog over what the Bible says who simply discard any
statements they don't feel good about with that simple catch phrase. One
of their kind even told me I'm going to hell because I judge others,
which itself is a statement of judgement. Post modernists don't tend to
follow logic and reasoning.
Shallow minded Christians often don't even consider the
implications of what they themselves are saying. Another implication of
what they are saying is what you might call the Gospel of Post Modernistic Christianity.
Namely that one can escape God's judgement simply by tolerating sin and
not making any definite statements of fact. Scrutinize not and God
shall not scrutinize you. You can escape hell, getting away with any
kind of lifestyle you like, as long as you don't scrutinize others. And
conversely those who criticize others are going to hell simply because
they criticize others.
Is the god of Post Modernistic Christianity the God of the Bible?
Let's start with Jesus. What precedent did he set? Did
he ever criticize others? He characteristically criticizes others. Take
the sermon on the mount, from where the catch phrase comes. There, for
example, he says, "whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery." Mt 5:32b And there he says, "Beware of false prophets,
who come
to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. By
their
fruits you will know them." Mt 7:15-16 But post modernistic Christians forbid examining one's fruit, lest they be exposed. Jesus said, "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." John 3:19,20 and his Apostle Paul says, "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." Eph 5:11 In Matthew 23, for example, expose them he did.
To his own brothers he said, "The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil." John 7:7
and for this reason he was crucified, because he criticized the
religiously proud, making them feel bad. The world loves post
modernistic Christians because they don't criticize the sinful
lifestyles and ideas of the world. But of Biblical Christians who
believe in the Biblical Jesus, he says, "If you
were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not
of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world
hates you." John 15:19 Indeed John says, "Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you." 1John 3:13 They'll
hate us for the same reason they hated Jesus.What could be said of the
hatred and contempt that post modernistic Christians have towards
Biblical Christians? John continues, "We know that
we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone
who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a
murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him." 1John 3:14,15
Post modernistic Christians hate those who follow the Biblical Jesus
and his apostles. Ironically, while claiming intolerance is sin, they
are intolerant of such people, revealing their preference, their hatred,
and consequently their salvation status.
Who do you tolerate? Wicked men? False Prophets? Jesus commended the church of Ephesus by saying, "I
know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those
who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false." Rev 2:2 and criticized Thyatira for tolerating a false prophetess. "I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess." Rev 2:20
While the Corinthian church was proud of their toleration of a wicked man, Paul says,
"It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and
of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s
wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?" 1Cor 5:1,2
Yet Paul himself would have been excommunicated from today's
post-modernistic churches for being so intolerant. Paul asks them
rhetorically, "Are you not to judge those inside (the church)?" 1Cor 5:12
It was a rhetorical question at the time because the answer was an
obvious "yes". Today post modernistic Christians answer just the
opposite, "No!". For they are in opposition to the Bible. Again,
contrary to post modernism Paul goes on to characterize the man as
wicked. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1Cor 5:13 So he states this man is a wicked man. And what does he say about the wicked in the next chapter? "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived ..." 1Cor 6:9 So this man, who alleges himself a brother in Christ Paul indicates is unsaved.
Likewise 1John is filled with principles by which one
can distinguish among the "Christian" community between those who are
children of God and children of the devil. For example John says, "They
went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had
belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going
showed that none of them belonged to us." 1John 2:19 and "No
one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains
in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This
is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the
devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God;
nor is anyone who does not love his brother." 1John 3:9,10 While Post modernistic Christians equate "love" and toleration of sin, Biblical Christians don't equate the two.
Throughout the Bible God ABUNDANTLY criticizes people.
Those who call God their Father should follow His example. Jesus even we
so far as to say, "You belong to your father, the
devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a
murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no
truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a
liar and the father of lies." John 8:43 In their hatred
for the truth, post modernistic Christians reveal their affiliation in
their contempt for those who follow Jesus. The god of post modernistic Christianity is not the God of the Bible.
Interpretation of the Catch Phrase
In saying, "Judge not and you will not be judged" was
Jesus being a hypocrite? For he criticized others so much so that it
got him crucified. There are those who say Jesus is the exception to the
rule. This being said by those who don't what Jesus to be the rule in
their life, but to rule their own lives according to their subjective
feelings and opinions. Rather than opting for such foolishness I would
say that Jesus was misinterpreted. The phrase was not meant as a
prohibition, but rather, speaking in a proverbial sense, he was simply
stating a principle of human nature. Namely that if you criticize others
they will criticize you. Try it yourself and see if that's not the
case. Better yet, consider Jesus. When he criticized others, they
criticized him back. It's part of following Jesus, and consequently part
of Christian ministry, to expect to be scrutinized when we scrutinize
others. The issue Jesus was dealing with IN CONTEXT was to be prepared
to have your life scrutinized.
It says, "The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment" 1Cor 2:15 Unspiritual, worldly Christians don't practice discernment. But the spiritual practice discernment. John writes, "Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God" 1John 4:1 The spiritual man also examines himself. "Examine
yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you
not realize that Christ Jesus is in you— unless, of course, you fail
the test?" 2Cor 13:5 And consequently having examined his
own faults he can criticize others without concern of himself being
subject to their scrutiny. In fact we see examples of the spiritual
encouraging others to examine them. Jesus said, "Which of you convicts Me of sin?" John 8:46a and Paul says, "I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test." 1Cor 13:6
Now if this message has made you "feel bad", feel free to expression how you feel. But realize that it says, "A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart." Pr 18:2