Judge not lest ye be judged

I have heard this is the most quoted verse in the Bible in our day and age, and yet one often misunderstood. Many use it to suggest that we are not to show discernment or make determinations about what is right or wrong. Today if we call something sin for which one must be held accountable for , we are often quoted this verse from Matthew 7 and Luke 6. In the context of Matthew 7 and the sermon on the mount we must conclude that this verse is not instructing Christians to stop determining what is right or wrong, nor about being discerning. However, it does call into question the manner in which we carry ourselves and treat others. Enter Dan Burton and the Roger Clemen’s trial:

Congressman Dan Burton, asking former trainer Brian McNamee “That’s a lie, right?” after reading his statement. And that’s not all, Dan Burton was on McNamee’s case throughout his testimony, saying things like “You’re here as a sworn witness yet we have lie after lie after lie. I don’t know what to believe. I know one thing I don’t believe. That’s you!” and “Roger Clemens is a baseball titan, and with all these lies, you have destroyed him and his reputation. How can we believe you? This kind of circus really bothers me.” Naturally, the comments made by Rep. Dan Burton are making headlines.

All in all, what Congressman Dan Burton said may be true. McNamee has lied and is not the most believable person in the world. However, it has brought up all kinds of discussion this morning on the news and radio today, and these hosts are now googling the name ‘Dan Burton’ and digging up his questionable past. Yesterday he stood up in a condemning manner against Mr. McNamee. His tone was harsh and his words were sharp. Today he is being given little grace in the media’s scrutiny of his life.

This is exactly what the passages in Matthew and Luke tell us will happen. If we are harsh with others, then there will be a harsh standard by which we will be judged. If we are quick to expose everyone else’s faults, others will be quick to expose our faults. As Christians we are to be discerning and concerned about what is right and wrong, but we must also be forgiving and gracious in our speech and actions. If we have been forgiven much, we should forgive much in others. If we have been loved when sinners, we should show love to those who are in sin. If we have been considered righteousnot because of our own works but because of Christ’s, surely we should not be self-righteous and look at others splinters while the planks of our own life/sin are still easily seen.