Let's discuss "judging"

I have always been an extremely slow eater, but yet my husband never says a word about it.  He just politely sits there and waits for me to finish.  If he were to start nagging me about it (as some have done in the past), he would be guilty of “judging” me.  It would be “judging” because the suggestion is that I should eat as fast as he does.

The same could be said about parents who expect all their children to be equally intelligent or capable of performing the same physical feats as their siblings or friends:  “Why can’t you run as fast as Sally?” or “How come Johnny is a jock while you’re such a Caspar Milquetoast?”  “You both came from the same parents, so why does your brother get straight A’s, while you’re just an average student?  That is pure, unadulterated “judging”…expecting others to live up to YOUR personal opinions/ideas/convictions.

The lines about judging become less blurred when it comes to Scripture, because Scripture (specifically Torah) is our “rule book” for human behavior.  We are told exactly what constitutes sin and what is pleasing to YHWH.  There is no “gray area.” Yet, many “religious” folks love to throw around the “don’t judge me” card whenever they are told they’re guilty of sinning.  This is because (1) they don’t like to be told they are sinning; or (2) they don’t really know what Scripture says concerning sin; or (3) they feel that “grace and mercy” and/or their “belief in Jesus” has earned them a “get out of jail free” card – which is a HUGE mistake as YHWH’s Divine Instructions in Righteousness have never been negotiable! 

A snapshot of Scripture taken from the Ten Commandments reveals you are a sinner if you:  

Worship any other god besides YHWH who is THE Creator of the universe and has amply revealed HOW to properly worship Him; take His Name in vain in any way (vows, promises, swearing, perjury or using His Name as a cuss word); refuse to keep YHWH’s Seventh Day Sabbath REST (this spills over into keeping ALL His Holy Days/Appointed Times); refuse to show respect to parents and teachers;  commit murder or adultery; or if you steal,  lie/bear false witness or covet….

It is important to remember that, while YHWH eventually recorded His TEN Commandments in stone,  these ten are merely part of the larger picture taken from His Torah which He said would stand forever. Many balk at this idea because they are under the erroneous impression that they no longer have to bother with TEN Commandments anymore (let alone the original "613" outlined in Torah); but, rather, just TWO - and they cite the following as "proof":

Matthew 22: 36. "Teacher, which Commandment in Torah is the greatest?" 37. And Y'shua said to him, that "You should love Master YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might and with all your mind." 38. This is the first and the greatest Commandment. 39. And the second is like it. That "You should love your neighbor as yourself." 40. On these two commandments hang Torah and the prophets. (AENT)

HOWEVER, I would like to draw your attention to verse 40 which clearly reveals that the Torah and the Prophets HANG/ARE DEPENDENT ON those two commands! In other words, there's more to it than just "loving God and loving your neighbor!  (Honestly, does the present world situation in any way reveal that we are “loving God or our neighbor?”)

Returning to the original intent of this message (which is “judging”), many attempt to use Romans 2 as proof that we are not to "judge one another" …unfortunately, that is yet another misunderstanding about the writings of Paul. Most people don't seem to be aware of the fact that TORAH is our judge (and both Y’shua and Paul constantly pointed back to Torah!).  Torah is the only guidance believers have that explains what sin is (1 John 3:4) so they can lead moral, holy lives!

Romans 2: 1. There is therefore no excuse for you, O man, who judges your neighbor; for by judging your neighbor, you condemn yourself; for you that judges, do practice the same things. 2. And we know that the judgment of Elohim is in accordance with truth, in regard to those who practice these things. 3. And what thinks you, O man, who judges those who practice these things, while practicing them yourself, that you will escape the judgment of Elohim? 4. Or will you abuse the riches of his benevolence, and his long suffering, and the opportunity which he gives you? And do you not know that the benevolence of Elohim should bring you to repentance? (AENT)

(Check out our article to see Romans 2 in context.   And for those who have never seen the Ten Commandments, please click here. )

What this short article attempts to convey is that, if you add your own judgments to those already established in the Torah of YHWH, then you have judged TORAH as insufficient, and are NOT allowing it to be your judge.  If something cannot verified between the pages of your Bible, then it is mere opinion and NOT of God.