by Pastor Mark Moreno
Sharing the Truth in Love
One of the most well known Bible verses is found in Matthew 7:1-5,
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye”.
English Standard Version
As Christians we are certainly discouraged from being judgmental and harsh in our treatment and perspective of other people. However, that needs to be balanced with the truth that is discernment. We need to separate God-given discernment and wisdom from human condemnation.
Discernment focuses on truth and seeks restoration, whereas judgment focuses on condemnation and seeks superiority. Even Jesus words in the text above highlights that discernment is the spiritual skill of seeing truth from error and good from evil, while judgmentalism is a proud, fault-finding attitude that assigns condemnation to people.
This discussion about discernment and judgment is important because you and I have been called to share the truth of God in a world that often choses to ignore Him. Christians can be seen as a hateful, judgmental group that picks on people. That is not how it should be! We should speak the truth in love, we should try to correct and encouraging an erring brother or sister with discernment!
The ultimate truth is that Jesus, the one quoted so famously here, is the one who stands in righteous judgment over us and yet He has shown us grace, mercy and love through His life, death and resurrection. One of the ways He lived this out is in John 8, when there was a woman caught in adultery. She was set to be stoned to death, but Jesus intervened. It ends like this: “Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more”.
Our Lord balances the truth of God’s Word and will with a grace-filled application. Never does He compromise His Father’s Word, but rather, He Himself fulfills it!
Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
