Righteous Judgment: Balancing Truth, Love, and Humility

Devotional

Day 1: Righteous Judgment in Love

We are called to exercise righteous judgment, which involves discerning right from wrong while maintaining a spirit of love and humility. This means being "fruit inspectors," evaluating the actions and intentions of others without condemning them as a judge would in a court of law. Our attitude should reflect Christ's love, even when the truth we share is challenging. This approach requires us to balance truth with love, ensuring that our delivery is not marked by arrogance or self-righteousness. [07:37]

"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 person with love and humility, seeking to understand their actions before forming an opinion?

Day 2: Balancing Truth and Love

The Gospel inherently calls for repentance and highlights God's holiness, which can be offensive to some. However, our delivery of this truth should be marked by love and humility, avoiding the extremes of being overly judgmental or completely passive. We must speak boldly yet lovingly, ensuring that our attitude does not become a stumbling block to others. This balance is crucial in effectively sharing the Gospel and reflecting Christ's character. [09:22]

"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ." (Ephesians 4:15, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a truth you need to share with someone. How can you ensure that your approach is both bold and loving, avoiding the extremes of judgmentalism or passivity?

Day 3: Respecting Personal Convictions

In areas where the Bible does not provide explicit directives, such as holiday celebrations or educational choices, we must respect individual convictions. A mature faith errs on the side of grace, seeks understanding, and avoids imposing personal beliefs on others. This respect for personal convictions fosters unity and allows for diversity within the body of Christ, as each person follows their conscience in matters of personal preference. [12:47]

"One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." (Romans 14:5, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area where you have strong personal convictions. How can you show grace and understanding to someone who holds a different view?

Day 4: Judgment for Restoration

Within the church, judgment should aim for restoration, not condemnation. Addressing sin is necessary, but the goal is always healing and reconciliation, not ostracism. This requires humility and a heart for restoration, as we seek to bring about healing within the community of believers. By focusing on restoration, we reflect the redemptive nature of Christ's love and foster a supportive and nurturing church environment. [27:43]

"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted." (Galatians 6:1, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone in your church community who may need restoration. How can you approach them with gentleness and a heart for healing?

Day 5: Submitting Plans to God

Boasting about future plans without acknowledging God's sovereignty is arrogant. True wisdom lies in submitting our plans to God, recognizing that His will prevails over our desires. Planning is not wrong, but it must be done with humility and a willingness to follow God's lead. By acknowledging God's sovereignty, we demonstrate trust in His perfect plan and align our desires with His purposes. [33:19]

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." (James 4:13-14, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your current plans and ambitions. How can you submit them to God, seeking His guidance and aligning them with His will?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the often misunderstood concept of judgment within the Christian faith. Many people misinterpret the biblical directive "judge not" as a blanket prohibition against any form of judgment. However, as we delve into the scriptures, particularly John 7:24 and Matthew 7, we find that Jesus calls us to judge with righteous judgment. This means discerning right from wrong, not sentencing others as a judge would in a court of law. We are called to be "fruit inspectors," discerning the actions and intentions of others while maintaining a spirit of love and humility.

The challenge lies in balancing truth and love. While the truth of the Gospel can be offensive, our attitude should not be. We must avoid the extremes of being overly judgmental or completely passive. The Gospel, by its nature, will offend as it calls sinners to repentance and highlights God's holiness. Yet, our delivery should be underscored with love and humility, avoiding the pitfalls of arrogance and self-righteousness.

We also discussed the importance of respecting individual convictions, especially in areas where the Bible does not provide explicit directives. Whether it's about celebrating certain holidays, educational choices, or lifestyle preferences, we must allow for personal convictions and avoid imposing our own on others. This requires a mature faith that errs on the side of grace, seeks to understand before judging, and prioritizes humility.

Moreover, we touched on the importance of addressing moral issues that impact society. The church is called to be a beacon of light, speaking out against societal norms that contradict biblical teachings. However, within the church, judgment should aim for restoration, not condemnation. The goal is always to bring about healing and reconciliation, not to ostracize or shame.

Finally, we reflected on the dangers of boasting about the future without acknowledging God's sovereignty. Planning is not the issue; rather, it's the arrogance of assuming control over our lives without seeking God's guidance. True wisdom lies in submitting our plans to God, recognizing that His will prevails over our desires.

Key Takeaways

1. Righteous Judgment: We are called to judge with righteous judgment, discerning right from wrong while maintaining a spirit of love and humility. This involves being "fruit inspectors" rather than judges who sentence others. Our attitude should reflect Christ's love, even when the truth we share is challenging. [07:37]
2. Balancing Truth and Love: The Gospel will naturally offend as it calls for repentance and highlights God's holiness. However, our delivery should be marked by love and humility, avoiding extremes of judgmentalism or passivity. We must speak boldly yet lovingly. [09:22]
3. Respecting Personal Convictions: In areas where the Bible is silent, such as holiday celebrations or educational choices, we must respect individual convictions. Mature faith errs on the side of grace, seeks understanding, and avoids imposing personal beliefs on others. [12:47]
4. Judgment for Restoration: Within the church, judgment should aim for restoration, not condemnation. Addressing sin is necessary, but the goal is always healing and reconciliation, not ostracism. This requires humility and a heart for restoration. [27:43]
5. Submitting Plans to God: Boasting about future plans without acknowledging God's sovereignty is arrogant. True wisdom lies in submitting our plans to God, recognizing His will prevails. Planning is not wrong, but it must be done with humility and a willingness to follow God's lead. [33:19]
** [33:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[06:14] - Misconceptions About Judgment
[07:37] - Righteous Judgment Explained
[08:16] - Balancing Truth and Love
[09:53] - Respecting Personal Convictions
[12:47] - Convictions and Judgment
[19:43] - Judgment for Restoration
[22:18] - Stopping Gossip
[23:44] - Criticism and Judgment
[25:22] - Speaking Out on Moral Issues
[27:43] - Church Discipline and Restoration
[29:07] - Different Callings in the Church
[32:19] - Boasting About Tomorrow
[33:19] - Submitting Plans to God
[36:50] - The Dangers of Chasing Wealth

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- John 7:24
- Matthew 7:1-5
- Romans 14:4

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Observation Questions:

In John 7:24, what does Jesus mean by "righteous judgment"? How does this differ from the judgment that is often criticized in society? [06:14]
According to Matthew 7, what is the context of the directive "judge not"? How does this relate to the concept of being a "fruit inspector"? [07:09]
How does Romans 14:4 address the issue of judging others' personal convictions, and what examples were given in the sermon to illustrate this? [09:53]
What are some societal issues mentioned in the sermon where the church is called to speak out, and how should this be done according to the pastor? [25:22]

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Interpretation Questions:

How can believers discern between righteous judgment and being judgmental, especially in light of societal norms that contradict biblical teachings? [08:04]
What does it mean to balance truth and love in the context of sharing the Gospel, and why is this balance important? [09:22]
How does respecting personal convictions in areas where the Bible is silent reflect a mature faith, and what challenges might arise from this approach? [12:47]
In what ways can the church practice judgment for restoration rather than condemnation, and what role does humility play in this process? [27:43]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you judged someone harshly. How could you have approached the situation with more love and humility? [08:16]
Consider a personal conviction you hold that others might not share. How can you respect differing convictions while maintaining your own beliefs? [12:47]
Identify a societal issue you feel strongly about. How can you speak out on this issue in a way that reflects Christ's love and truth? [25:22]
Think about a plan or decision you are currently making. How can you submit this plan to God and seek His guidance to ensure it aligns with His will? [33:19]
How can you practice being a "fruit inspector" in your community, discerning right from wrong while avoiding a judgmental attitude? [07:37]
Reflect on a time when you were quick to judge without knowing all the facts. How can you ensure you gather all necessary information before forming an opinion in the future? [20:57]
How can you encourage others in your church to focus on restoration and reconciliation rather than condemnation when addressing sin? [27:43]

Sermon Clips

Jesus actually encourages his followers to judge with righteous judgment. This misconception of judging is an attempt to conform the scriptures to support opinions. So when people say, listen about gay marriage or abortion or all these Hot Topics that the church isn't supposed to talk about, I guess because they're hot topics, so keep your mouth quiet and don't talk about these things. [00:06:22]

We are called to be the salt and the light. We are called to discern what is right and wrong. We are called to say this is not right, this is what's happening in our nation, this is not right. The pulpit used to set the tone of the nation. I've talked about that before. We are to judge and to call things into question. [00:07:58]

The truth will offend, but my attitude shouldn't. That's the difference. The truth will offend, but my attitude shouldn't. It shouldn't be a judgmental, go get them angry person. You've seen those people on TV, right? You're like, oh, please don't be representing Christianity right now, please. [00:08:14]

The word of God, by its nature, Truth by its nature will offend when you're calling Sinners to repentance, when you're talking about the Judgment of God, the righteousness of God, the Holiness of God, it's going to offend, and rightly so. The gospel offends. If it doesn't offend, there might be something wrong. [00:09:12]

Romans 14 is based on convictions. Who are you to judge another servant? To his own Master he stands or falls. And you're probably going, Shane, do you have a few examples? I'm glad you asked. I've got quite a few examples, and believe it or not, yours truly has fallen in this area before of being judgmental. [00:09:44]

You've got to allow some flexibility and freedoms because there are convictions that maybe I don't share that you share or you share and I don't share. And I'm, I can't believe you're celebrating Easter. It's estar, it's a goddess of estar and those fertility eggs, and you're putting little eggs around and you're letting your kids collect the Easter eggs. [00:11:03]

When it comes to convictions like this of the conscience, we can't, we can have strong opinions, but I have a feeling that it applies here because we're putting our own convictions on other people. And I've noticed too that a person's seasoned in their faith 20 years, very mature, they're going to have stronger convictions than a person who's been a Christian two years or a year. [00:12:40]

The whole goal of Confrontation is restoration. That's the goal, that's the purpose. It's never to kick somebody out and get rid of them. It's for restoration. But what I was saying on a different note, Titus 3:10 says to warn a divisive person a few times and after that have nothing to do with them. [00:27:36]

We have a certain gifting or certain calling. We tend to judge others that don't. For example, those who have a calling towards politics, Dobson, Tony Perkins, Family Research Council, David Barton, wall Builders, and all these people you're seeing, they have a thank God for them. Thank God for people. Can you imagine we just give up on everything? [00:28:05]

The key is this: it doesn't say not to talk about or plan for the future. It says don't boast in it. So the right way to do this is, Lord, here's what I'd like to do over the next year. I'd like to sell my house, I'd like to move here, I'd like to do this, I'd like to store here, I'd like to get ready for this. [00:33:16]

Arrogance is self-willed, and being self-willed is not god-centered and therefore evil. Evil, that word, if you look it up in the Greek or the Hebrew, is something that opposes the character and nature of God. So we think evil, oh no, this is like terrible. Yes, it is, but anything that opposes the character and nature of God is evil or Wicked. [00:34:58]

The best thing to do is ask God for his wisdom before you do anything significant, even something little. But the whole point here, he's talking about those who say, Come on, come now, say today or tomorrow we'll go to such and such a city and spend a year there, buy and sell and make a profit. [00:36:28]

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Righteous Judgment: Balancing Truth, Love, and Humility

Devotional

Day 1: Righteous Judgment in Love

Day 2: Balancing Truth and Love

Day 3: Respecting Personal Convictions

Day 4: Judgment for Restoration

Day 5: Submitting Plans to God

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Righteous Judgment: Balancing Truth, Love, and Humility

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