Judge Me Not

Many people who are not favorably disposed to Christianity, or religion in general, are fond of quoting Matthew 7:1. Do not judge, or you too will be judged. Except they usually quote it from the King James Version (Judge not that ye be not judged), because (a) that was the vogue version the last time they cracked open a Bible, or (b) they think using the KJV makes them sound more righteous. That’s important because they are usually quoting it at a Christian whom they feel is judging them. I am mildly amused that folks who otherwise do not care what Jesus had to say on any number of subjects, suddenly find his pronouncement regarding judging others relevant.

To be fair, we believers do sometimes run afoul of this particular command. In the current cultural climate, however, we are by no means the vilest offenders. Step outside your conservative evangelical circle (or stay in it!) and announce your opposition to same-sex marriage or abortion, or, in some quarters, voice skepticism about anthropogenic climate change and see how quickly you get tried and convicted. For a culture that preaches tolerance as the highest virtue, there is precious little practice going on out there.

Which brings me to the judgement verse I really wanted to consider. Colossians 2:16 – Therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. Paul was apparently concerned that the Colossian Christians were going to cave in to the pressure they were getting from some sort of Jewish/pagan hybrid religious group. If you’re interested in exploring the specific pressure points, I will refer you to the commentaries. I’m much more curious about the heart of this text – do not let anyone judge you.

Come again? Do not let anyone judge me? I understand why Jesus would tell me not to judge others. But how do I get others not to judge? What they do is not really in my sandbox. I don’t have any control over their behavior. What am I supposed to do? Quote Matthew 7:1 to them?

As he usually does, Jesus offers a useful example. In John 5, the Jews are judging Jesus. He has healed a man on the Sabbath, something they equate with work and, therefore, a violation. When they confront him, he says, “My Father is always at work to this very day, so I’m going to work, too.” That comment, from their point of view, is an even more egregious violation – he is making himself equal to God! Now, they want to kill him. How does he respond?

First, he affirms God’s love. For the Father loves the son (5:20). At his baptism, God affirmed his love for Jesus, (Matt. 3:17). In his final prayer, Jesus referenced God’s love for himself, (Jn. 17:26). That’s fascinating to me. I often tell our church that we must tell people what God has done before we tell them what they must do. God’s love was just as important, if not more so, to Jesus. How many times would the judgement of others bounce off your heart if you were truly convinced of God’s love? The next time someone judges you, remember that their assessment of you is trumped by God’s.

Second, he acknowledges who the real judge is. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, (5:22). When the Christians in Rome were trying to out-judge each other, Paul asked, Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls, (Rom. 14:4). When Paul commanded the Colossians not to let anyone judge them, he wasn’t ordering them to control the behavior of others – he was telling them to reject unelected, unqualified judges.

Third, he aspires to please only God. I seek not to please myself but him who sent me, (5:30). Jesus added in vs. 41, I do not accept praise from people. If we’re honest with ourselves, the reason the judgments of others sting us is because deep down, we crave their praise. We want others to think we’re some kind of wonderful. Our desire for approval gives them more power than they deserve. And it makes us vulnerable – not just to being hurt, but to being herded by the whims of the crowd.

Back in Colossians, after Paul issues his command to ignore the illegitimate judgement of others, he reminds them of how their past protects their present and guarantees their future. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, you also will appear with him in glory, (Col. 3:3, 4).

The next time someone judges you, take it to a higher court. You’ll win on appeal.