Navigating Judgment and Discernment in Faith

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the complex issue of judgment versus discernment, particularly in the context of our faith and the world we live in. We began by acknowledging the challenge of navigating judgment, especially in a culture that often misinterprets biblical teachings like Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, lest you be judged." This verse is frequently misused to justify a "live and let live" mentality, but Jesus' teachings call us to a deeper understanding. We are not to position ourselves as judges over others, yet we are called to exercise discernment and wisdom in our interactions and decisions.

Jesus masterfully addressed the extremes of judgment through the illustrations of logs, dogs, and hogs. The "log" represents the critical spirit, where we are quick to judge others while ignoring our own faults. Jesus warns against this hypocrisy, urging us to first address our own shortcomings before pointing out the faults in others. This self-awareness fosters humility and gratitude, recognizing that we are recipients of God's grace and mercy.

On the other hand, Jesus also cautions against permissiveness, where anything goes without discernment. He emphasizes the need for a discerning spirit, especially in a world filled with moral relativism. We must be able to identify behaviors and influences that are detrimental to our spiritual lives, both within and outside the church. This discernment is not about condemning others but about protecting our faith and aligning our lives with God's standards.

Ultimately, Jesus exemplifies the balance of grace and truth. He connects with people through grace, offering them a chance to change and grow, while also upholding the truth of God's word. This balance is crucial for us as followers of Christ, as we navigate the complexities of life with love, wisdom, and integrity.

Key Takeaways:

1. Judgment vs. Discernment: We are called to discern wisely without positioning ourselves as judges over others. This requires understanding the context of biblical teachings and applying them with humility and grace. [08:48]

2. The Danger of a Critical Spirit: Jesus warns against the hypocrisy of judging others while ignoring our own faults. True humility comes from recognizing our need for God's grace and mercy. [12:59]

3. The Need for Discernment: While avoiding a critical spirit, we must also cultivate discernment to navigate a world filled with moral relativism. This discernment protects our faith and aligns us with God's standards. [16:34]

4. Grace and Truth in Balance: Jesus models the perfect balance of grace and truth, connecting with people through love while upholding the truth of God's word. This balance is essential for our spiritual growth and witness. [19:41]

5. Living Out Our Faith: Our understanding of judgment and discernment should lead us to live out our faith with integrity, love, and wisdom, reflecting the character of Christ in all we do. [27:06]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:00] - Introduction to Judgment and Discernment
[05:30] - Misinterpretation of Matthew 7:1
[08:48] - The Balance of Judgment and Discernment
[12:59] - The Critical Spirit and Hypocrisy
[16:34] - The Importance of Discernment
[19:41] - Grace and Truth in Jesus' Teachings
[22:00] - The Role of Humility in Judgment
[25:00] - Navigating Moral Relativism
[27:06] - Discernment Within the Church
[29:37] - Jesus' Example of Grace and Truth
[31:26] - The Story of the Woman Caught in Adultery
[33:32] - Conclusion and Call to Action

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 7:1-6
- John 8:1-11

#### Observation Questions
1. What are the two extremes of judgment that Jesus addresses in Matthew 7:1-6, and how does He illustrate them? [18:09]
2. How does Jesus respond to the Pharisees when they bring the woman caught in adultery to Him in John 8:1-11? [31:26]
3. What does Jesus mean when He talks about "logs, dogs, and hogs" in the context of judgment and discernment? [19:41]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:1-6 challenge the common cultural understanding of "judge not, lest you be judged"? [08:48]
2. In what ways does the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) demonstrate the balance of grace and truth that Jesus exemplifies? [33:32]
3. How can the concept of discernment, as discussed in the sermon, be applied to both personal and church contexts? [27:06]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you judged someone harshly. How can you apply Jesus' teaching on removing the "log" from your own eye before addressing the "speck" in someone else's? [18:09]
2. In what areas of your life do you struggle with being overly permissive or lacking discernment? How can you cultivate a discerning spirit in those areas? [19:41]
3. How can you practice balancing grace and truth in your interactions with others, especially when addressing sensitive issues? [29:37]
4. Consider a situation where you felt judged unfairly. How did it affect you, and how can this experience help you show more grace to others? [12:59]
5. Identify a relationship or situation where you need to exercise more discernment. What steps can you take to seek God's wisdom and guidance in this area? [16:34]
6. How can you ensure that your judgments are aligned with God's standards rather than personal biases or cultural norms? [27:06]
7. Think of someone in your life who might need a second chance. How can you extend grace to them in a way that encourages positive change? [33:32]

Devotional

Day 1: Discernment Over Judgment
In a world that often misinterprets biblical teachings, it is crucial to understand the difference between judgment and discernment. While judgment places us in a position of authority over others, discernment calls us to wisely evaluate situations and behaviors without condemning individuals. Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, lest you be judged," is often misused to promote a permissive attitude. However, Jesus encourages us to exercise discernment, which involves understanding the context of His teachings and applying them with humility and grace. This approach allows us to navigate our interactions and decisions with wisdom, aligning our lives with God's standards. [08:48]

"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." (John 7:24, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a situation where you have been quick to judge someone. How can you approach this situation with discernment and grace instead?


Day 2: Recognizing the Critical Spirit
Jesus warns against the danger of a critical spirit, where we are quick to judge others while ignoring our own faults. This hypocrisy is illustrated through the metaphor of the "log," which represents our own shortcomings. By addressing our own faults first, we cultivate humility and gratitude, recognizing our need for God's grace and mercy. This self-awareness helps us avoid the trap of hypocrisy and fosters a spirit of compassion towards others. True humility comes from acknowledging that we are all recipients of God's grace, and this understanding should guide our interactions with others. [12:59]

"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a personal fault you have been ignoring. How can you address this issue to cultivate a more humble and compassionate spirit?


Day 3: Cultivating Discernment in a Relativistic World
In a world filled with moral relativism, it is essential to cultivate discernment to protect our faith and align our lives with God's standards. Discernment is not about condemning others but about recognizing behaviors and influences that are detrimental to our spiritual growth. Jesus emphasizes the importance of discernment, urging us to be vigilant in identifying what aligns with God's truth. This discernment helps us navigate the complexities of life, ensuring that our actions and decisions reflect our commitment to God's word. [16:34]

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1, ESV)

Reflection: Consider an area in your life where you need to exercise more discernment. What steps can you take to align this area with God's truth today?


Day 4: Balancing Grace and Truth
Jesus exemplifies the perfect balance of grace and truth, connecting with people through love while upholding the truth of God's word. This balance is crucial for our spiritual growth and witness, as it allows us to engage with others compassionately without compromising our beliefs. By following Jesus' example, we can offer grace to those around us, providing them with opportunities to change and grow, while also standing firm in the truth. This approach not only strengthens our faith but also serves as a powerful testimony to the transformative power of God's love. [19:41]

"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:17, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a relationship where you struggle to balance grace and truth. How can you better embody this balance in your interactions with this person?


Day 5: Living Out Our Faith with Integrity
Our understanding of judgment and discernment should lead us to live out our faith with integrity, love, and wisdom. By reflecting the character of Christ in all we do, we become effective witnesses of His love and truth. This involves being intentional in our actions and decisions, ensuring that they align with God's standards. As we navigate the complexities of life, we are called to embody the principles of grace and truth, demonstrating the transformative power of our faith to those around us. [27:06]

"Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel." (Philippians 1:27, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you can better reflect the character of Christ. What practical steps can you take today to live out your faith with greater integrity?

Quotes

"So how do we find balance and equity to this issue as followers of Christ that honestly has become a pretty hot topic in the world that we live in? And you know that it's true because we are now living in a hypersensitized, canceled culture world where if you dare, if you dare to say something is wrong or something is immoral or something is ungodly, you are labeled a bigot or hateful or even unchristian-like in this world." [00:06:06] (31 seconds)


"This is why I'm so convicted over these next five months to dive deeper into the Word of God with you, to equip you and prepare you and help you understand how to navigate life in this complex world and do it in a godly way. We must study the Word of God to find the truth. Because people who misuse this verse, here's what they're doing." [00:08:48] (19 seconds)


"Jesus was saying, they think they're right with me because of all the stuff they do. They think they're getting into heaven because of all the stuff they do, because of how spiritual they are, how holy they are, how many laws they keep, how many days they observe, how many things they eat or don't eat, how many things. Their heart's not in it. They don't do it to love me, honor me, or serve me." [00:13:31] (23 seconds)


"And if we're not careful, and I mean we, me, you, all of us, if we're not careful, we tend to see people through emotional bifocals. You know it's true. If we're not careful, we tend to see the bottom part, and we look at the bottom part through a rosy tint to view ourselves." [00:18:19] (24 seconds)


"and it is in me we are born with it we see and judge everyone else by listen to this by their actions but when we judge ourself we judge ourself by our intentions well i meant to well what i what i was trying to say was well what i what you misunderstood me that's not what i meant but when someone says something to us we immediately assume they meant it bro that that they meant what they said they meant what they did we are much more gracious with ourselves than we are with others what we call pig -headed and stubborn and other people we like to refer as conviction and passion with ourselves y 'all all right all right i'm just checking on y 'all's making sure you're good here's what jesus said we're gonna turn the corner jesus said it is impossible for you that's a fallen frail broken human being also to make accurate assessments of others until you first are able to deal with a massive log that is sticking out of your own eye and everybody in this room's got some logs and then he turns the corner and he talks about dogs and hogs and when he talks about dogs and hogs he brings balance to this issue so beautifully because he talks about the nerd the need and the demand for a discerning spirit if you're going to be a follower of christ you are going to have to lean on the discernment of the holy spirit moving in and through your life so on one hand don't be a harsh pharisaical judge certainly but on the other hand as a follower of christ trying to navigate a complicated and dark and difficult world you better learn and cultivate and make room for" [00:19:57] (108 seconds)


"to steer clear of the extremes of being hypercritical to judgment of others, that we should never seek to tear down anyone, anywhere from a position of self -righteousness that's not his will, but it's also clear that we should never overlook sin, condone it, affirm it, or act like there is no standard of right and wrong because there most certainly is." [00:29:01] (20 seconds)


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Transcript
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