North America's Broken Political System: a (short) Bible Lesson On Fixing Washington

We Need to Stop Judging People, It's Not Our Job!

By Minister Paul J. Bern (Matt. 7:1-5; Romans 14:10-13; James 4: 11-12)

This week's commentary will have to do with America's broken political system, which has been all over the bogus news networks here in North America. Ever since Donald Trump got elected, the Democrats have been trying to have him impeached, and for the entire 8 years that Barack Obama was our president, the Republicans tried to have him impeached. Meanwhile, our country's business is not being taken care of due to all the childish temper tantrums being publicly displayed on American TV sets nationwide. The cure for all the infighting in the White House and well beyond has been right in front of us all along.

It is written in the holy Scriptures that we must spend some spare time each day being gentle, loving and merciful towards each other. We are never to tear down others, but rather we should uphold one another, as it is written: “1) Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2) For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3) Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4) How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5) You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew chapter 7, verses 1-5)

Even though these words of our Lord and Savior were uttered 2,000 years ago, they still apply today. For example, verse 1 should be self-explanatory. Anyone who “passes judgment” on another person really thinks they are better than others. Otherwise, why would they judge? Verse 2 spells out the penalty for those who do these things. If anyone judges someone as an inferior individual for whatever reason, the degree of negative judgment is directly proportional to the contempt shown towards others. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”

So it is never a good thing to look down our noses at others, or to assume that any one person is better than the other. If God, who looks down at us from above and sees people being treated in a disrespectful manner, particularly if those individuals count themselves as 'Christian', they should not be surprised when things in their lives inexplicably take a turn for the worse. Their lives won't return to normal until they start treating people fairly. So let's all make sure we check ourselves first to keep from being examined by God when our lives are over, and then to be found wanting.

There are a couple more examples I'd like to teach on for the nest few minutes, but I'll keep it short and simple so I don 't lose anybody. The first comes from the Book of Romans, and I quote: “10) You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. 11) It is written: 'As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.' 12) So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. 13) Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your minds not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.....” (Romans chapter 14: verses 10-14)

There will be equality among all humankind, just as the apostle Paul wrote in verse 10 above. Who do we think we are, passing judgment on others we perceive to be somehow inferior to ourselves? This includes people of different races, religions, economic status, gender or age. It is one thing to take a stand against a perceived evil. But it's an altogether different matter to possess a raging hatred towards others, even if that behavior was taught. One of the original 10 commandments was to “honor your father and mother....” (see Exodus chapter 20), but if our parents or grandparents were hard-hearted bigots, it's our responsibility to disagree with their bigotry, prejudice and hate. To ignore bigotry and hate just because the bigot is a family member is to be complicit with their behavior.

“12) So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. 13) Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.” If we express complete disapproval for, say, gay people for example, while professing our faith in God through his Son, the faith and devotion of that particular person would be suspect in the eyes of God and men alike. Also, in the last part of the last verse, we are admonished not to “ ….put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” It's hard to say for sure what Paul meant by 'stumbling block', but in modern terms this could have been anything from an ethnic barrier of one kind or another, but more likely an economic barrier so the top 1% can hold on to their wealth at the expense of everyone else. God will judge any of them who hoarded their gains and shared nothing with others in the End Times we're in.

For my final example of why we should not go around judging others, particularly the ones we detest the most, I will present this timeless quote from the apostle James: “11) Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12) There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you – who are you to judge your neighbor?“ (James chapter 4, verses 11-12)

The apostle James was saying, if we judge others we are presumably taking God's place, as if God needs out help to begin with. But only God is without sin. It is for this exact reason that we must not judge others, even if they have judged us first. All of us have sinned at least one time or another, or more, and we have fallen short of God's magnificent glory. But the apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian church that, “We are to continue working out our own salvation's with fear and trembling” before God. If we can maintain that kind of an attitude, we will find our propensities for being judgmental will disappear altogether. In the process, we will find ourselves being transformed into a people with servant's hearts.