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“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks….For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” From Matthew 12
“To judge is to assume the hidden things of the heart. But when once the mouth has spoken, the heart betrays itself and the judging has already been done. What is left is to measure the evidence against truth.” -Kelly Crawford
14 comments
this is phenomenal kelly… a fantastic point… weird, everything i read lately hits so dead-on a spot that i need to work on…it’s funny how right now, He is speaking so clearly to me through others…
Hear! Hear!
I was thinking about you this morning (as I was reading Dr.Laura :)) , Kelly, and your ability to reason in the face of emotion…even on our best days we never want the Bible to mean just what it says. I’m interjecting a verse that isn’t related to your point today necessarily, but backs up one you’ve made in recent discussions about our default expectation being ease and comfort (including an absence of what we critically refer to as “judgment”), when neither has been Scripturally prescribed…
*If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.* Job 36:11
It doesn’t say leisure or frivolity, or flights of fancy – it says (obedience)(service)=(prosperity)(pleasure). They necessarily increase each other. In a culture that expresses increasing dissatisfaction at the equivalent rate it’s leisure time increases, I’m forced to focus on what real pleasure means. I would happily accept the corrective, caring judgment of a Godly person who knew I was missing my inheritance. I would hate to think we’ve been bullied out of offering our sincere care for the eternal well being of others, lest we be “judged” by worldly standards.
“I would hate to think we’ve been bullied out of offering our sincere care for the eternal well being of others, lest we be “judged” by worldly standards.”
Good gracious, God has given you the gift of using words!
Along the same lines, (I think??) I was thinking how when I talk about hard things and get bashed,I’m a little taken aback because my intentions are truly so sincere. I must compare it to Dave Ramsey…
Here is a man who speaks really hard words about the wisdom of money, straight from Scripture. He calls people “stupid” and they love him for it because deep down, he just wants people to find freedom.
That’s why I write. I feel it a disservice to my neighbor to remain silent.
Thank you for a beautiful word of encouragement.
“I would happily accept the corrective, caring judgment of a Godly person who knew I was missing my inheritance.”….to clarify, I would accept it, and then work my around to being happy/grateful about it – not trying to overstate my own obedience, my any means!
Yes !!!!!!!!!
It is always encouraging to hear someone who rightly understands that scriptures on this issue (and can articulate it so succinctly). The thing that amazes me about the whole “judging” debate is how devoid of biblical meat the discussion often is. As you have pointed out before, people often throw around the “Judge not lest you be judged” but ignore its context which defines the intent and meaning of this admonition. It is ignored/forgotten how often are we commanded in scripture to “judge”/”discern” (1 Cor. 11 comes to mind as one in which the result of not “judging” rightly is death, even for believers. Scary thought.). As “the cottage child” points out, an incorrect understanding of this issue impoverishes us corporately and individually as no one is willing to love me enough to warn me/rebuke me for my sin and instead let me go my merry way continuing in my destructive, murderous rebellion which is destroying me and those around me. Oh that someone would love me enough to warn me of the danger of my sin before I am eternally undone! How many of us would bear fewer scars and deal with less besetting sin if only someone had loved us enough to “judge” our actions/words when the sin was small and young?
Once again, well said Kelly.
wonderful!!!
Kelly, this is great! I’m going to save it!
Quick techie question…one reader mentioned that the text box is too wide and the text “runs out” before it wraps around. It is not the case from my end. Is anyone else having this problem? If so, what browser are you using?
Not a problem here.
so basically it’s okay for you to be judgemental because you believe god is on your side, never mind the whole “judge not lest ye be judged” thing?
Yes, Jess, that’s exactly what we’re saying, you’re on to us :)…LOL, you’re invited to reread, better yet study the Scripture in context for yourself, it’s worth delving into.
Here are a few more verses on the topic, which I think emphasize the need for sincere love on the part of the person doing the pointing out of the fault towards the other person, as well for humility not just to receive correction, but to give it.
GAL.6:1-3: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
PRO.27:5,6 Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.