Patience and Judgment
Scripture Reading: Romans 2:1-5, Matthew 7:1-5, John 8:14-18

Today we continue our discussion of makrothumia, or the "patience" toward others that results from being filled with the Holy Spirit.     

What would be the polar opposite of Biblical "patience"?  Think about the model of patience God displayed for us by postponing the flood for 120 years, by vowing to never again flood the earth, and by delaying final judgment as long as possible because "it is not His will for any to perish."  Can you see Scripture contrasting the two themes of patience and judgment?

An opposite practice from makrothumia, or the long-suffering toward others inspired by mercy, would be krino, which means "to pass judgment upon, condemn, take vengeance on."  It means to "try" someone as if they stand accused before you in a court of law.  We can see why patience and judgment are opposites: the essence of the biblical word for "patience" is the delaying of judgment. 

God demonstrated that He ultimately makes a choice.  He cannot judge swiftly and be patient.  At some point, God's patience is complete and He makes judgment.  Until then, the Lord is "patient" so that many may be saved.  The same rule of disposition is true within us.  We cannot both judge others and be patient toward them.  One cancels out the other.  Therefore, if we are going to become vessels of God's patience toward others, we must also learn to be void of judgment toward others.

Romans 2:1-5 lists six reasons we must not judge others:

1)      When we judge others, we cause God to be harder on us (v.1).

2)      We do many of the same things we condemn in others (v.1).

3)      We do not know the whole truth (v.2).

4)      We are mere humans (v.3).

5)      When we judge others, we are judging God (v.4).

6)      God's judgment is always righteous. Ours is tainted by the flesh(v.5).

According to Matthew 7:1-5, we should not judge others because if we do, we risk the same type of judgment to ourselves.  Also, we cannot judge the speck of sawdust in another's eye because of the planks in our own.

James 4:11-12 makes the point that "there is only one lawgiver and judge."  There's simply no room on the bench!  God wrote the commands and only He has the right to judge the infraction and punish the offender. 

We judge to make ourselves feel righteous in comparison.  Only God has noble purpose in His judgment.  Whether or not the thought is conscious, most judgments boil down to this justification: "At least I don't do that!"  God's judgment is not based on his "ego."  It is a practical action by which He determines the fate of all humanity.

The final reason not to judge is found in John 8:14-18.  Just like Christ's, our judgment would have to be completely consistent with God's.  He must agree with us for our judgment to be valid.  We judge by human standards and, therefore, possess little heavenly perspective.  To make a valid judgment, the second testimony cannot be our best friend or neighbor...it must be God.

Let me clarify that this is not referring to the absence of discipline in the church or the home.  Some situations demand discipline.  We are talking about the quick mental and verbal judgments we make toward one another.  Though God sits as judge from a bench of awesome perfection, He has chosen to exercise "patience" toward each one of us and to delay the proceedings that would have meant our deaths.  If he is patient with us and He has no sin, how patient must we be toward others with whom we share the same sin? 

Dear Father, I pray for an acute awareness of judgment in my life.  Please give me an immediate sense of conviction over the sin of judgment and my tendency to condemn.  Thank You for the patience You have shown me.  I want to surrender my mind to You, Lord, so that You will change the way I think about others.

Adapted from Living Beyond Yourself, by Beth Moore, pages 115-118.  Nashville: LifeWay Press, 1998.  Used by permission.