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University church of Christ

Assembly Times

 Sunday

   Bible Classes (9:30)

   AM Worship (10:20)

   PM Worship (6:00 pm)

 Wednesday

   Bible Classes
(7:00 PM)

Location

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830
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Who is My Judge?

by Robert Welch

People become overly concerned about how others pry into their lives, criticizing, condemning, maybe slandering. What difference does it make what others think of us? They are not really our judges; the Lord is our judge. What they say may slur our reputation, but it can do nothing against our character and standing with the Lord. Preachers even become too much concerned about what the people church members, the world, think of them and their preaching. Paul gave consideration to all these things as he wrote:

"But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self... but he that judgeth is the Lord." (I Corinthians 4:3‑4)

Notice that he does not say that he cares nothing about the judging or examining of others. He does emphasize, however, that it is “a very small thing”. In the same letter he says, "I am become all things to all men," (I Cor. 9:21) but that is not merely to please them. He says it is "that I may by all means save some." The context, furthermore, shows that he would not go so far in this as to displease Christ. Instead he disciplined himself lest he be rejected of Christ. (I Cor. 9:27)

He had this small concern about what others thought of him. On the other hand, however, he puts the matter in its proper place: "For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ." (Gal. 1:10)

If my friends, companions and "everybody" do a thing and think that I am an odd‑ball because I do not go along with it, am I concerned? Their actions and estimations are not the standard of conduct for me as a Christian, and it is not by their standards that I am to be judged. "He that looketh into the perfect law, the law, of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing." (James 1:25) Not only is it the doing of the perfect law which will bring me blessings, but it is by this perfect law that I shall be judged; "so speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law, of liberty." (James 2:12)

"But if other Christians think that it is wrong to do this or that then I cannot do it for that would be offensive to them," is often expressed by sincere Christians who have come to believe that we can not do a thing unless it is liked by all Christians. Other Christians are not my judges. They are not my lawmakers. I am to live to be judged by the gospel. It is true that I cannot so live and do a thing which, though right in itself because I understand the principle of truth involved, would cause my fellow Christian to violate his conscience in doing it, or sin in doing it, or weaken him by my action (Rom. 14:21; I Cor. 8:11‑13; 10:32). The word "offend" is used in some of these passages in the Ring James version. And it has been mistakenly used to teach that if a thing is disliked, that is offensive, to some brother then we cannot do it. That is not the usage of the word at all in these passages; it refers to the other person's offending, that is, stumbling or sinning.

My first objective is to be what the Lord would have me to be. I must pattern my motives and life after his will. When I have done that I will have no difficulty in doing what I can to be pleasing others in order that I might have the greatest effect possible in leading them in the right course. Otherwise, it should be of little concern to me what they think, so long as I am doing what I know to be right.

I am not even my own judge.

 

DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS TOO HARD

 

Pray don't find fault with the man who limps,

Or stumbles along the road;

Unless you have worn the shoes he wears

Or struggled beneath his toad.

 

There may be tacks In his shoes that hurt,

hidden away from view,

Or the burdens he bears, placed on your back,

 Might cause you to stumble too.

Don't sneer at the man who's down today,

Unless you have felt the blow

That caused his fall or felt the shame

That only the fallen know.

 

You may be strong, but still the blows

That were his, if dealt to you.

In the self‑same way at the self‑same time,

Might cause you to stagger too.

 

Don't be too harsh with the man who sins,

Or pelt him with words or stones,

Unless you are sure, yes, doubly sure

 That you have not sins of your, own.

‑‑Author unknown 

     

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