Judgment vs. Spiritual Discernment

Wednesday, February 1st, 2023

by Ken Pullen

A CROOKED PATH

One of the most misunderstood verses in the Holy Bible is Matthew 7:1.

Judging Others

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 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? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”

Matthew 7:1-6 — English Standard Version

There is a vast difference between judging someone and spiritually discerning what that same person is doing, saying, how they are living.

Judgment has always carried with it a pronouncement. A sentence. Consequences handed out. From the very first judgment pronounced to Adam and Eve in the Garden for their blatant disobedience to God.

Judgment pronounces a sentence to be handed out or given. Visible consequences. And if anyone thinks or says or writes a judgment to or for another person they had better be prepared to receive the same pronouncement handed to them. For we’re all sinners and have fallen short of the glory of God. We’re all unrighteous not deserving of the free gift of grace, not deserving forgiveness, not deserving salvation through repentance, faith in, and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.

But God, in His tender mercy and love, His free gift of grace, His providing the Lord Jesus Christ as the Sacrifice to permit our salvation, by His judgments, His words, His promises to those repenting, believing, and submitting to the Lord are saved.

Not mere opinion or a nice idea. A pronouncement from God.

The people of the world, those who ARE darkness and in darkness — that is NOT being judgmental that is using spiritual discernment — love to say or write, “Jesus and God say in the Bible not to judge, so stop judging me, stop judging others!” Completely lacking the Bible literacy, the spiritual wisdom, and spiritual understanding to know and use the Lord’s words in context, and not even understanding what JUDGMENT means — as it ALWAYS carries with it a pronouncement, or sentence that corresponds to the act or actions taken by a person, or persons that goes against known commandments, laws, and statutes.

Be those from God and of a spiritual nature, or of the world carrying all manner of fines or more dire consequences. Consequences. A pronouncement from an authority corresponding to the sin, the infraction, the crime, or the breaking of the law.

Adam and Eve, and every person thereafter received the death sentence for their arrogant and blatant disobedience to God. Ignoring the ONE INSTRUCTION, the ONE COMMANDMENT — LAW — given to them as well as the consequences, the pronouncement for breaking that law.

To see someone. let’s say drunk or high on drugs, and we would go up to them and say, “If you don’t get sober and stop doing what you’re doing you’re going to burn in hell for eternity,” IS JUDGMENT.

We have no say in a number of things pertaining to any individual at any given time.

We don’t know what is in their heart. Even though we may think we do by outer appearances.

Only the Lord knows what is within every heart at every moment.

We don’t know if that person is going to live another five minutes and die, or another fifty years. And at some point between hearing the Word of the Lord, repenting, and submitting to God making the Jesus Christ Lord of their life.

We’re not to judge. We are not capable of handing out a judgment, a pronouncement, or a sentence — the consequences of a person’s actions, words, and so on. Only God is capable of that.

And in a worldly manner, judges who are voted in or selected in the various courts to interpret the law and hand out just corresponding pronouncements — consequences, judgments accordingly.

Part of getting to the point of a judgment is discernment.

One must first see, hear, and come to the knowledge of something taking place.

Let’s say a person is brought before a worldly judge for something. Let’s say theft. A person was caught stealing food.

Now the judge hearing this person’s case listens to the particulars. The events surrounding this matter.

If the person in question before the judge stole food to feed her hungry three children and it is clearly known that was her sole motivation? The judge will make a DISCERNMENT according to the circumstances and his or her judgment ought to reflect the circumstances. Especially if a first-time offender.

Any individual anywhere, no matter where, no matter their age, gender, mental gifts, knowledge, abilities, or status in this life — no one other than a judge sitting on a court bench ought to stand or sit in judgment of that woman. Because in three months, or a year we may be in the very same circumstances. And what judgment would we want to be handed down to us?

Therefore, we are to ONLY DISCERN wisely and well. Yes, witness, watch, listen, and read of the circumstances surrounding a person or persons and what they may say, how they may live, what they may do — but only go as far as DISCERNING according to the laws set forth by man, or the Word of God. Do not proceed to judgment. That is up to the human courts in relation to human law, and up to God in relation to His Word.

And if a true believer? We are to ONLY DISCERN wisely and well according to the Word of God. Exercising spiritual wisdom, and spiritual discernment.

We are to discern wisely and well ALL THINGS. Everything as it pertains to God’s Word.

I know in the past I’ve written we’re to judge all things well and wisely according to God’s Word, but that JUDGMENT ought to only pertain to our KNOWLEDGE of what God’s Word says about something and not proceed to where we are haughty, high minded, and we either openly, verbally, in written word or in our hearts pass judgment upon another person.

I once was chief among sinners. I sinned more than a lot of the people I knew and was associated with. I deserved nothing but eternal hellfire. God’s wrath and judgment.

I had people back then sit in judgment of me. I had people tell me to my face I was going to burn in hell, there was no hope for me, I was lost, I’d never amount to anything and hell was the best place for me.

Some of these people were relatives. Some people associated with various churches that professed to be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, children of God — Christians.

They never knew my heart.

Many of those that spoke in such a way to me, some so vehement I can still recall their spittle hitting my flesh as they were so close, so vehement and animated, so loud in their pronouncements to me — many, most of those have died.

Not aware of the fact of the Holy Spirit coming to me, removing me from my being darkness, removing me from being in darkness, and opening my heart, my mind, my ears, my eyes, and my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. To God. To the Holy Spirit. To the whole of the Word of God.

I would never sit or stand [while actually falling] in the judgment of any of those folks. And I hope and pray to see some of them, if not all of them in heaven one day.

God willing.

God deciding.

God judging.

Therefore, let us DISCERN wisely and well, spiritually, HUMBLY with patience. Lest we fall into the patterns and ways that are not becoming of someone who is a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, a true child of God. For all of us once were lost and fallen in the pronouncement, the judgment of God of eternal damnation. Were we not? And yet now? If regenerated, born anew by the power of the Spirit of God?

For I in my finite manner, my feebleness, my being but a mere speck of animated dust that just happens to have an eternal spirit and soul within that God loves and cares deeply about would never judge who goes to heaven, who goes to hell, or even what sentence any person ought to serve for their infractions, their crimes, their disobedience.

But I do know how to discern. Well and wisely. According to God’s Word.

Thus, I can say or write about an unrepentant person practicing homosexuality or existing by using and abusing alcohol or drugs, or anyone who blasphemes and serves paganism and Satan, that may steal not out of hunger or need and at their wit’s end [not that is not stealing, but let’s leave the judging of it, the sentencing of it to God and the courts, shall we?] — but to steal for their own lusts, coveting and gain — using the brain that God gave me and His Word that He gives to all who will turn to it and ask for spiritual wisdom, spiritual understanding, and spiritual discernment to know what is good and acceptable before the Lord and what is not.

Without pronouncing any sentence or judgment upon those that are wicked and do all those unacceptable things before the Lord.

There is a vast difference between judgment and judging others and spiritual discernment.

I hope this is discerned as it is intended, understood, and not judged. For I am but one finite, feeble person. A sinner. As is everyone on earth. Seeking to know God’s wisdom and ways and this requires DISCERNMENT more than judgment.

Those that refuse to discern all things well and wisely — misunderstanding the difference are tossed about and used similar to how the serpent used Adam and Eve in the Garden. Easily deceived. Weak. Prone to being misled. Ahh, such consequences there…

Keep on discerning everything. Well. According to the Word of God foremost. According to the established foundations. Always.

Leaving the pronouncements of judgment due to various consequences up to God and the judges put on various human court benches pertaining to human laws.