ABOVE OUR PAYGRADE
Romans 14:10-13 NKJV
10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.
Paul, still speaking to the practical application of spiritual truth, is addressing believers' conduct toward one another. And he makes a great case for abstaining from the role of being a judge.
When Jesus ascended, He gave ministry gifts to men. According to Ephesians 4:11, He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Absent from this list, and every other list of spiritual giftings, is the role of judge. Yet Paul spends more than a few verses in Romans chapter 14 addressing this issue in the church. I have always appreciated verse four, where Paul asks, "Who are you to judge another's servant?"
In our verses for today, Paul asks the question - why are we judging our brother or showing contempt for our brother? Contempt means to treat as disrespectful, lack of regard, to treat with scorn. Because, and here is the kicker, we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Every one of us will give an account of himself to God. The main idea is that all of us will have to give an account of our own actions. Every knee shall bow, and every tongue will confess. So, because we have to stand before the only One who is qualified to judge, we need to make sure we are not occupying that role here on earth.
This is why Paul says resolve this, not to judge one another, but determine not to put an obstacle or reason to fall in our brother's way. The Greek word for resolve is also rendered consider, decide, determine, judge. So we could say don't judge one another, but if we are going to judge something, judge, determine, decide to not cause a problem for our brothers and sisters in Christ. There is a judgment day coming, but it will not be any of us in the judge's seat.
APPLICATION
Maybe we are prone to judge because it makes us feel better about ourselves. Maybe we were raised in a critical environment, and making determinations about others is part of how we operate. But this chapter makes it clear that judging others is not to be an activity we engage in.
Can we judge actions as to whether they are right or wrong? Yes, we can. Should we be accepting of everything and everybody, regardless of how they act? No, we should not. As a loving church, we still have to watch the behavior of people who come into The Ark. In the instances where someone's behavior is dangerous, disruptive, or distracting to the rest of the church, we have to deal with that behavior. Is that judging? No, that is protecting those who are entrusted to us.
As a parent, I had to be discerning of the people who were involved in my children's lives when my children were under my roof. I could not judge the hearts of others, but I could sure issue a hard no if I did not believe they were good for my kids. This particularly pertained to the young men who dated my daughter. I was not a judge, but I was still a dad.
Judging the hearts of others is above our pay grade. But we are still to use wisdom when it comes to the people and things entrusted to our care.
PRAYER
Lord, grant me the wisdom to discern and protect without judging and condemning.