Judge Not?

The phrase "Do not judge" gets quoted a lot. In fact, I see this idea on a regular basis because the fitness center I exercise at has signs labeling it a "Judgement Free Zone." Most of the time, I hear it in Christian circles when we talk about sin, or something that someone has done wrong. The original quote is of Jesus in Matthew chapter seven verses one through three:

Don't judge, so that you won't be judged. You'll receive the same judgment you give. Whatever you deal out will be dealt to you. Why do you see the splinter that's in your brother's or sister's eye, but don't notice the log in your own eye? - Matthew 7:1-3 CEB

This is a part of Jesus' teaching that has come to be known as "The Sermon on the Mount." There's a lot of good stuff in there. You should read it. Jesus has some very practical directions for how we should live our lives. People especially love this instruction to not judge. It's like a get out of jail free card. Any time anybody points out anything that you've done wrong, you can just tell them that Jesus said, "Don't judge," and you're off the hook.

Here is a story of a woman in Canada who says something similar to "do not judge": http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/atheist-minister-vows-to-fight-removal-from-united-church-due-to-her-beliefs-1.3180632
The key quote that I think relates to Jesus' idea of "Don't judge" is this one:

If we are going to continue to use language that suggests we get our moral authority from a supernatural source, any group that says that can trump any humanistic endeavour.

I read that and I immediately thought of Jesus' words "do not judge." I disagree with her about there being no God, and I think it is ok to claim a supernatural source for morality. But, I agree with Jesus' idea mainly because it came from Jesus (supernatural source for moral authority), but also because I think Jesus had the ultimate humanistic endeavor, namely the salvation of every human being ever.

The more I thought about it, I realized why it is ok and a good thing to have Jesus Christ as the supernatural source of moral authority. It really doesn't have to do with his being divine or "better than everybody else" or being "The Judge" at the end of the age. It really has to do with one thing: Love. Jesus Christ is the only one who has shown us complete perfect love. In fact, 1 John 4:8 states "God is Love." As a Wesleyan theologian, I see Love as God's reigning attribute through which we see all of God's other attributes.

Read Jesus' words in Matthew 7 again. The rest of the phrases inform the first. Yes, he says "Don't judge." Then he develops it further saying, "Whatever you deal out will be dealt to you." The question we have to ask ourselves is "What are you dealing out?" Is it love? I can only claim "moral authority" to the extent that I love one another. Jesus Christ is my source for knowing what that means. Jesus Christ dealt out love, true love. Just because some throughout human history have misused and abused moral authority based on a so-called "supernatural" source, doesn't mean that God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, has not revealed to us God's love through God's Son, Jesus Christ. The problem is not the supernatural source. The problem is imperfect humans who deal out many things less than love. Jesus did not come simply revealing a moral code, or a moral authority, but he shows us Love, a way of life that gives life. I am not ashamed of claiming that supernatural source, and I believe Jesus can still change the hearts of humans to resemble the love we see in Jesus Christ. It will not undo or oppose humanistic endeavors. It will not divide us and cause fighting. Instead, "perfect love casts out fear", and love brings healing and hope, justice and faith, restored relationships, and unity. "Love never fails."

So, go ahead and judge, just make sure you're dealing out love, not condemnation and hate. Show grace to one another. Show forgiveness and sacrifice to one another. That's the Jesus Way. Call upon Jesus' name for strength and help to do it. See what happens.