Judge Not (10 of 12)
Series: Sermon on the Mount
Will McGee
Matthew 7:1–6
If you were to look at virtually any survey done in the last 15 years on our culture’s view of Christianity. Or if you just simply asked your neighbor…. You would find that one of the most common words typically used to describe American Christians today is “Judgmental.”
To be honest, sometimes I feel like that is not an entirely fair criticism. I think judgmentalism plagues all groups in our current cultural moment.
Whether secular, religious, political, or racial. It’s not just Christians who perpetuate stereotypes… It’s not just Xians who make uninformed assumptions or believe the worst about others. Judgmentalism is temptation for all groups.
Yet, at times, I do think the shoe fits. Many of you, in this room, know the pain of judgmental Christianity…Or judgmental religion.
As followers of Jesus, we need to repent of the times we have falsely, harshly, and unfairly judged others. Especially those outside of the faith.
We need to listen to the instruction of Jesus… When he tells us… Here in the Sermon on the Mount… “Judge not, that you be not judged.”
Now, of course, this is one of the most popular and well-known verses in our society. It seems to fit with the two of our culture’s most basic assumptions.
1.) That religion should be private
2.) Morality and Truth are relative.
So, people see that Jesus said this and they say, “You can’t tell me I’m wrong. You can’t make moral claims about another person’s life. You’re judging me. That’s just your truth.”
But if this is what Jesus meant by “judge not,” then he routinely broke his own command. Jesus made both moral and truth claims. He spoke them over others. Jesus said, “Go and sin no more.” Jesus said, “I am THE TRUTH . . .”Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount rebukes adultery, lust, anger, lying, hypocrisy. Later in this chapter, Jesus rebukes false teachers. To judge not, then, is not to throw your ...
Series: Sermon on the Mount
Will McGee
Matthew 7:1–6
If you were to look at virtually any survey done in the last 15 years on our culture’s view of Christianity. Or if you just simply asked your neighbor…. You would find that one of the most common words typically used to describe American Christians today is “Judgmental.”
To be honest, sometimes I feel like that is not an entirely fair criticism. I think judgmentalism plagues all groups in our current cultural moment.
Whether secular, religious, political, or racial. It’s not just Christians who perpetuate stereotypes… It’s not just Xians who make uninformed assumptions or believe the worst about others. Judgmentalism is temptation for all groups.
Yet, at times, I do think the shoe fits. Many of you, in this room, know the pain of judgmental Christianity…Or judgmental religion.
As followers of Jesus, we need to repent of the times we have falsely, harshly, and unfairly judged others. Especially those outside of the faith.
We need to listen to the instruction of Jesus… When he tells us… Here in the Sermon on the Mount… “Judge not, that you be not judged.”
Now, of course, this is one of the most popular and well-known verses in our society. It seems to fit with the two of our culture’s most basic assumptions.
1.) That religion should be private
2.) Morality and Truth are relative.
So, people see that Jesus said this and they say, “You can’t tell me I’m wrong. You can’t make moral claims about another person’s life. You’re judging me. That’s just your truth.”
But if this is what Jesus meant by “judge not,” then he routinely broke his own command. Jesus made both moral and truth claims. He spoke them over others. Jesus said, “Go and sin no more.” Jesus said, “I am THE TRUTH . . .”Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount rebukes adultery, lust, anger, lying, hypocrisy. Later in this chapter, Jesus rebukes false teachers. To judge not, then, is not to throw your ...
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