Judging Others is a Condemnation of Self
 

Romans 2:1-2 (NIV)
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.

I know there was another thread about judging a while back. It was too voluminous for me to read. I don't know if this passage was discussed. However I'd like to proffer it now. "Judge not lest ye be judged" is often quoted concerning those who are judgmental.

This passage seems to build further. The problem with judging, this passage reveals, is that those who judge others are guilty of the same things. Of course, if you're judgmental you're probably too proud to believe that you're guilty of one or more of the following:

* Every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.
* Being full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.
* Being gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful.
* Inventing ways of doing evil.
* Being disobedient to parents.
* Having no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.

This is the list of sinful behavior Paul lists in Romans 1. Of course, he wasn't writing with chapters and verses, he was writing a letter. Therefore he continues with Romans 2:1. I think Eugene Peterson says it best in his paraphrase:

"Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done." Romans 2:1-2 (The Message)

The consistent message of Scripture is that God is no respecter of persons. That there is none that does good. There is none righteous, no not one. That ALL are guilty of breaking God's laws. It doesn't matter what law or laws we break, breaking even one law makes us a lawbreaker and we are condemned by the law. The breaking of law is sin and the wages of sin is death.

Therefore, there is no excuse, according to scripture to ever be judgmental. We are all guilty and we all need God's mercy. When we see someone else in sin, falling, failing, bound and torn by sin, we should do all we can to LOVE,
help, and forgive them whether in word, thought, or deed---considering ourselves lest we fall.

Being judgmental condemns not only the sinner but the sinner condemning them.

Re: Judging Others is a Condemnation of Self
 

Amen.

The question raised in the other thread was whether or not it was actually judging, to begin with, to point to the bible where it says belief in Christ and the cross is necessary for salvation or we're lost, and saying all who have no belief in Christ and his cross for salvation are lost. That point never did get any attention, but all sorts of diversions from the point, without actually dealing with the point. Your thoughts, D?

Re: Judging Others is a Condemnation of Self
 

Is it judging to use the bible's plain statements about salvtion by works does not save, and say anyone who attempts salvaiton by works is lost?

IOW, is it judging to take a verse that says certain beliefs cause one to be lost, and say all applicable people are lost, or is it judging to make up our own criteria apart from the bible and say all applicable are lost? Or are BOTH instances just mentioned examples of judging?

Re: Judging Others is a Condemnation of Self
 

Prooftext without context is spooftext.

The context of the verse in question is the Jew who trusts in his Torah keeping to make him righteous and better than "other men", especially Gentiles in the church, because unregenerate Jews do not themselves keep Torah anyway.

Re: Judging Others is a Condemnation of Self
 

Judging can refer to "condemnation".

It is not of itself condemnation, for then our preaching of the gospel
that saves would condemn and not invite to repentance. Even our
teaching would condemn the hearers! There is surely a difference
between conviction and condemnation. With conviction, a person
FINDS HIMSELF guilty before God; in condemnation, the hearer will
be found guilty BY MAN and sentenced to the lake of fire.

Do you feel convicted or condemned?

Re: Judging Others is a Condemnation of Self
 

:nod

Re: Judging Others is a Condemnation of Self
 

So, what say ye? Is it judging people to point at scripture that says all who are baptized and believe are saved, and apply that to people who were not baptized and did not believe to indicate they're lost and need to be saved??

Poor Peter! He told people they were lost and needed Acts 2:38. Where was the love of God?

Ironically the love of God is manifested in people who reach out to others with the saving gospel, telling how God so loved them He sent His Son to the cross.

Re: Judging Others is a Condemnation of Self
 

:highfive :thumbsup

Some people have a idea that enabling is love? Jesus tells us to first remove the obstacles from our own life (vision) and THEN we can see correctly to remove the speak from our neighbor's eye. Therefore being able to take them around the ditch, instead of leading them into it.

Re: Judging Others is a Condemnation of Self
 

Leviticus 19:17 informs us that refusing to rebuke your neighbor for sin is hating your neighbor.

You cannot love your neighbor by enabling them and saying "I'm OK, you're OK". That's Biblically defined as hating your neighbor.

Re: Judging Others is a Condemnation of Self
 

Leviticus 19:17 KJV Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.

:thumbsup