Q38. Judgmentalism

[Pastor Ralph]

Q38. (Matthew 7:1-2; 9:13; Hosea 6:6; 2 Corinthians 10:12) What prevents a judgmental spirit from being compatible with humility? How can we maintain an attitude of mercy towards sinners in our fallen world while still maintaining godly standards within our Christian community? In what way does comparing ourselves with others work against humility? How do backbiting and a critical spirit betray a judgmental spirit?

[Brother Clifford wilson]

When we judge we must be careful that we judge in humility.  I must judge in consideration of how I would respond to the same judgement that I dish out.  Standers of humility and mercy, as the Lord would do must be observed.  Judging must be tactful, and with care for the emotion state of the person you're applying it to.  Then with courtesy and respect of persons involved.  Approaching all life situations in the spirit of truth covers a lot of earthly ground.  Mercy can be applied correctly by placing myself in the other person's position.  We are of the spirit while some of our encounters are not.  Keeping the faith, being prepared spiritually can lead to responding correctly without compromising my standards in my faith.  I must maintain a loving spirit to overcome negative judgmental occurrences.  They happen sometime but repenting from bad behavior must come swiftly.

Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Backbiting

[Bianca]

 

My Answer:

 

A judgemental person is always looking at another's faults but refusing to look at their own faults. That's not walking in humility. A humble person will have mercy towards another and pray for the other person not criticize and judge the person. 

 

We can remember we used to have some of the same lifestyle patterns as the world. We must remember to have mercy. Just like Jesus has mercy on us and gave his life for us by us remembering that shows humility.

Always comparing ourselves can lead to a very prideful attitude. A person can get an attitude of superiority and always thinking that they are better than others that doesn't help with humility.

Backbiting and criticizing all the time can cause us to judge people inappropriately and cause us to not have mercy on others as we should. 

 

 

[Brother Clifford wilson]

Q38 (Matthew 7:1-2; 9:13; Hosea 6:6; 2 Corinthians 10:12)

1. What prevents a judgmental spirit from being compatible with humility?     Humilty magnifys the small and large, the high and low according to the will of God..  As ambassodors of Christ we must be prepared in humility of the inner man. We must judge accordingly with humility.  Never decreasing someones value.  Always adding and comforting in spiritual increase.  Judgemental spirits lacks Godliness and corrects without the spirit.  Humility seeks God in matters of judgement.                                                                                     

2. How can we maintain an attitude of mercy towards sinners in our fallen world while still maintaining godly standards within our Christian community?   We must first have a attitude of mercy.  I pray for a attitude of mercy, I live in a drug infested area and I sort of lose it when addicts are on my property.  I talk to them about the lord  and how he can change their heart.  I know the Lord reprimands my on how to show addicts mercy.  I pray daily and leave it in God hands.  I am comforted in my approach and Christ shows me how to comfort those who are lost in life.  My attitude towards mercy is maintained by Christ.  My  Christian community receives what practice it daily at home.  Mercy in the christian community has its strength in the word of God. We are called to humblly show mercy and grace just as Christ did.  Seeking Gods will can show his mercy if I practice humility.  This is humbling and it keeps me in a mindset of practicing humility.

3.In what way does comparing ourselves with others work against humility?   Experience tells my how comparisons do nothing to increase the spirit in me. It leads to spiritual compromise in my inner self.  My increase is really imagined in my mind and therefore my soul is unsettled.  Humility does;nt seek compromise it seeks to help other see themselves magnified in their reflection through the humble.

4.How do backbiting and a critical spirit betray a judgmental spirit?  Backbiting and criticizing is spiritual disfunction.  What can I expect from God if I am critical of my brother?  Scripture tells my that I will receive the same judgement from my Father in heaven

 

 

    

[George L]

Q38. (Matthew 7:1-2; 9:13; Hosea 6:6; 2 Corinthians 10:12)

1. What prevents a judgmental spirit from being compatible with humility? It places us and our view point above looking down instead of looking at their situation and how to administer mercy for God in their situation.

2.  How can we maintain an attitude of mercy towards sinners in our fallen world while still maintaining godly standards within our Christian community? Pay good heed to our own struggles, how we were corrected in love and shown the better path, rather than accused and left us helped.

3. In what way does comparing ourselves with others work against humility? Self is my biggest sin. Placing what I desire first is never the correct priority. Humility places us below, and God the solution source for on we are trying to push upward from below.

4. How do backbiting and a critical spirit betray a judgmental spirit? They full view of placing ourself in the wrong place before God. I remember well the day God said to me, “Why do you think you can tell me how to adjust today?” His answer, His way, Always. Never mine.

[hanks]

Q38. (MATTHEW 7:1-2; 9:13; HOSEA 6:6; 2 CORINTHIANS 10:12) 
What prevents a judgmental spirit from being compatible with humility? How can we maintain an attitude of mercy towards sinners in our fallen world while still maintaining godly standards within our Christian community? In what way does comparing ourselves with others work against humility? How do backbiting and a critical spirit betray a judgmental spirit?
When we start judging others by worldly standards of success and achievements we might look down upon others – having an inflated opinion of ourselves. Definitely not compatible with humility. We can maintain this spirit of mercy towards sinners by remembering that we are sinners saved by grace. We are prone to judge others more harshly than ourselves, quick to see the extent of evil we think we perceive in others, while being blind to our own much greater wrongs. Careful, for without repentance and faith there can be bo salvation. We must get rid of these hypocritical judgments, judgment without self-judgment and replace it with a sincere care for each other recognising that we are members of the same body of Christ. The moment we compare ourselves with others pride kicks in and we start looking down towards others. What we should be doing is comparing ourselves with God’s standards - how does my life compare to that of Jesus Christ? When we start speaking evil of others, slandering, and gossiping we are criticising them - downgrading them, putting us on a higher level. This is a cause of great grief and trouble in churches. 
 

[Clelie]

Judging others shows pride which is incompatible with humility.

This world is fallen because of the pride of Satan who rebelled against God.Non believers live in the spirit of this world and we need to show mercy to them because they are under the power of Satan.But within church community we need to practice humility with love and compassion considering others better than us.

when we compare ourselves with others,we are showing we are better or higher which is pride not humility.

Backbiting, criticizing is qualified as pride and this is a  judgemental spirit..

[Nicolaas A.P. Mostert]

Q38. (Matthew 7:1-2; 9:13; Hosea 6:6; 2 Corinthians 10:12)

What prevents a judgmental spirit from being compatible with humility?

The judgmental spirit put you above other where humility see others more then you. 

How can we maintain an attitude of mercy towards sinners in our fallen world while still maintaining godly standards within our Christian community?

We have to follower the example of CHRIST, on the cross JESUS forgive the one sinner and must we have mercy for others.

In what way does comparing ourselves with others work against humility?

Comparing is like a race, and if you are in a race there must be a winner.

How do backbiting and a critical spirit betray a judgmental spirit?

They are of the same spirit, backbiting and critical spirit sprout from judgemental.

[Lisa Wolf]

Q38. (Matthew 7:1-2; 9:13; Hosea 6:6; 2 Corinthians 10:12) What prevents a judgmental spirit from being compatible with humility? How can we maintain an attitude of mercy towards sinners in our fallen world while still maintaining godly standards within our Christian community? In what way does comparing ourselves with others work against humility? How do backbiting and a critical spirit betray a judgmental spirit?

A judgmental spirit equals a person with no compassion.  Anyone putting themself into the place of BEING THE JUDGE has no humility or at best very little.  Hosea speaks God's Word to us: "I desire mercy and not sacrifice."  It is important that we share the gospel--the good news of Jesus--with all.  Someone judgmental will refuse to associate with some people - for whatever reason, thus showing no mercy. Comparing ourselves to anyone other than Christ brings no benefit for growth and assumes we are in charge of our growth and character rather than God being in charge working in each unique person, the Spirit helping us to become like Jesus.  Backbiting and critical spirit show judgement by demeaning another and not showing love.  1 John 2:9-11, Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.  John continues with stronger rhetoric in 1John 3:10, "This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister."

[epiphone8]

When we take on a judgmental spirit we inflate our own pride and hinder our ability to love others. This compromises our use in God’s kingdom and ultimately robs God of glory! 

We should use discernment as love does not rejoice in wrongdoing but a lack of mercy and grace on our part can choke our spiritual growth. 

[Krissi]

It could be the case that there is a tension between a) the normal and healthy judgments we make about ourselves and other people and b) the way we act on our own judgments.  

As Pastor Ralph pointed out, discernment is healthy and good. And necessary. When we make judgments about people’s character, we’re protecting ourselves against potential danger – it’s a part of our deep, created nature to decide if a person is a “friend or foe?” There’s nothing wrong with judging, comparing or pigeonholing what we see and hear about/from others.

The problem arises with what we do with these judgments. The bible is not asking us to stop judging as much as it is telling us to make judgments carefully and prudently and not act on those judgments in ways that hurt people needlessly. The primary judgment we make about others concerns their character. We make the best judgments we can in this regard. Honest appraisals. 

Humility, then, can be seen in our mercy to those we have judged correctly. Mercy isn’t needed when our judgments are wrong. In that case, we need to confess and revise our judgments. But mercy is needed when our judgments are correct and we could rightfully reject someone but do not do so … because He loves. Compassion doesn’t mean shutting your eyes to the truth about someone’s character but loving that person in spite of his sins and shortcomings. This extends to oneself as well.

Our mercy and kindness must be extended to ALL “… in spite of.” To be merciful is to love and serve someone “as is.”

 The problem, then, isn’t one of judgment but of a lack of genuine love. And love is something God alone gives us. We pray for more love, for loving attitudes and hearts, and, in time, the Spirit softens us toward people we find repulsive or dangerous. We ourselves must change. Whatever God does with that other person is not our concern. We are only responsible, before Him, for our response to our own judgments, that is, how we act toward others. We are responsible for increasing in genuine love which can only be done after soul-searching and then confession. We need Spirit-led insight into our own lovelessness toward others.