The Bible on the surface can hold what some would say are confusing contradictions. However, if one takes the time to study the Scriptures for all they are worth, and seek to understand the culture in which is the context for the Bible; the Holy Writ comes alive with meaning and makes perfect sense. If people would spend as much time studying the Bible as they do sport team stats or senseless blog arguing , what kind of understanding would they have, what kind of society would we see?
I have learned that non-Christians do study and memorize some Scripture. But mainly for use against Christians, not to change their lives. A popular verse that is often quoted, out of context, is Matthew 7:1
Judge not, that you be not judged.
[Why do non-Christians choose not to memorize Romans 3:23 or John 8:58]
They love to throw this in the face of a Christian who is really trying to help them see salvation and the joyous life in Christ. Those who live in darkness hate to have the light shine on their sin, and will use methods to divert the attention away from themselves, “What do you mean what I do is wrong?” “Who are you to judge me, does your Bible say….” And their sudden biblical scholarship beats back the Christian to squelch the convicting feelings. It’s like trying to save a drowning person, get to close and they jump on you and drown you – you die and your only intent was to save their life.
There is truth to the non-Christians complaint that a majority Christians tend to act like Pharisees. You know “We’re better than you.” Or “Unclean, don’t touch me.” They are hypocritical, expecting the non-Christian to live a life the Christian is not even able to maintain. It’s like expecting a tadpole to jump like a frog, it’s impossible until the transformation occurs.
But is that the heart and mind of Christ, is that truly what we are called to model to the world?
Paul said it best in Philippians 2:5; have the attitude of Christ. We are not to judge others, we are not called to condemn. BUT….
In contrast, we are supposed to be Fruit Inspectors. From the same chapter in Matthew 7 comes a balancing point.
You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
“Now wait a cotton pickin’ minute. Jesus just said don’t judge now we are supposed to look at what someone does and determine whether they are good or evil? Isn’t that judging?”
Actually when you look at the cultural context of the “judge not” passage this seeming dichotomy makes perfect since. Let me explain.
During the first century, and it is still true today, judges could be corrupt, not honestly weighing the evidence before them. The Pharisees certainly were and they are the target of this “judge not” passage. For they took the 10 commandments of God and created 613 additional laws to make sure everyone followed perfectly. Only problem, no one can, not even them.
William Barclay illustrates this corruption idea in a story from medieval essayist Michel de Montaigne about a Persian judge who wrongly condemned a man in court. King of Persia, King Cambysses, heard about this in justice and put in place a solution for future judges. King Cambysses had that judge killed, flayed his skin, and used his skin to cover a chair that judges were to sit on when they passed their judgments – a grim reminder to never allow prejudice to affect their verdicts. This is like the native America saying, “Do not judge a man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins.” This is the idea behind ‘judge not lest you be judge’ statement. We are not to look at someone and, to add another cliché, judge a book by its cover. We are to love unconditionally. Christians are not called to judge; really no one is called to judge. The verse everyone should learn, Romans 3:23
For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
That does not change once we become Christians. As long as we are in these bodies that have not been transformed like our spirits, we will have to battle with sinfulness.
But again, we are to be fruit inspectors. Jesus states in Matthew 7:15, we are not to believe everything someone says just because they say they are Christians.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
The reason being, false prophets come into the church and lead people astray. So we are to listen to what other say and evaluate their meaning in light of the Bible. The Greek word used here is yeudoprofhtwn which means a false teachers or one who falsely speaks by divine inspiration.
See it is not the job of Christians to evaluate non-Christians lives, they have not been transformed; the old man has not been put to death. They have not received the newness of life that Jesus Christ can give them.
So the non-Christian is correct in saying we are not to judge them; think less of them. We are also not supposed to judge one another either, judging is for the Most High at the end of days. No one if perfect and therefore they cannot judge.
However, by the same token we are to be fruit inspectors, not allowing the heresies, incomplete or perverted doctrines to be espoused in the church.
