IN ONE OF HIS LESSONS taught from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus issues a stern warning about self-validating our assessments of others. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” (Matt. 7:1) The Greek verb “krino” can be used in either a positive fashion, as in *“to weigh carefully,” or negatively, as it is here, **“to judge as guilty, to condemn.” In the latter context, Jesus is both warning us about and asking us to carefully consider the motivations of our own hearts as we attempt and are tempted to view the motivations of others. Proverbs tells us that “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” (Prov. 16:2) Also from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matt. 6:22-23) Jesus further warns about establishing ourselves as sword-wielding shame-casters. “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matt. 7:2) He calls “hypocrites” those who blindly exercise such opprobrium, and admonishes “first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matt. 7:5) His use of hyperbole is not lost on us—a tree in our own eye; a speck of sawdust in the eye of someone else—such is the enormity of pride that is dangerously inherent in such self-righteous condemnation of others.

Yet scripture, all of which is authored by the Holy Spirit (cf. 1 Tim. 3:16-17), tells us to exercise judgment in the disciplinary sense when it becomes necessary for the welfare of the body of Christ. By extension, these principles guide all our relationships, but especially those in the family of faith. Paul tells the problematic church at Corinth, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” (1 Cor. 5:12-13a) And then, perhaps shocking to us, he boldly asserts, “Expel the wicked person from among you.” (1 Cor. 5:13b) We are aware of the depth of iniquity in that church. Paul earlier informs about them “since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?” (1 Cor. 3:3) And he places before them their own lack of godly discernment: “A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?” (1 Cor. 5:1b-2) Jesus, addressing such issues, says “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 18:18) Clearly, scripture over and over again tells us to exercise judgment in the church in the context of *“weighing carefully” the clear evidence of sin in its myriad forms, and to administer discipline accordingly

Discipline is often considered only in a punitive sense, since it is discolored in the tension caused by the negative circumstances and actions that generate a needful response. But proper discipline is meant to be administered through a spiritually sensitive motivation of heart that truly desires the best outcome in any situation to be for the glory of God. In its highest form of application, discipline is meant to be restorative. Paul captures the tension of this roiled equilibrium when he says, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Cor. 7:10) We need to be mindful that God’s purpose for all mankind is expressed as redemptive—he did, after all, send Jesus, “that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17) Neither should we be condemnatory as we exercise sound judgment. However, it is a responsibility we should not shrink away from.

But we look inward, and wonder if we are up to the task; if we are honest, we question our own motivations. Our journey that leads us past the quicksand of condemnation to being the representative of the healer of souls is one that God orchestrates through the trials we are given daily; when we overcome the trials, we gain Godly perspective. Moses reflects on this as a heartfelt prayer, much as David later will. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psa. 90:12) We go before the LORD, and ask, as David did, “See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psa. 139:24) This necessary course-correction is most fully expressed through Jesus’ teaching from the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matt. 5:7-8) Ours is not a pilgrimage meant to be taken alone; it is the collective journey of the church of Jesus Christ.

There is an antidote for myopia. In the spiritual warfare that is always part of every church, no individual should walk through the battleground alone. A wider view comes from good counsel, and leads to better outcomes. Proverbs tells us, “Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.” (Prov. 24:6) Paul, no stranger to such warfare, says that he speaks “a message of wisdom among the mature” (1 Cor. 2:6), and that this message is “not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” (1 Cor. 2:13)

We must cultivate a relationship amongst the mature so that collectively we have a wisdom that supersedes our own blind spots. Only then can we trust our own decisions. But it is more than cumulative practical wisdom that is required. “The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, for we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor. 2:15-16) When our spiritual insights are affirmed in the counsel of many who share the message of the mature, our judgment is most likely to be rendered with integrity of purpose. Paul says, “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart.” (1 Cor. 4:4-5) We will know the integrity of our judgment when the outcome produces peace, and God is glorified.

Q. If God was an optometrist, would he diagnose my vision at 20/20?

*Strong’s 2919.

**Louw-Nida 56.30.