Lesson 2: Biblical Judgment

Many want nothing to do with the church anymore because it is so judgmental. They remember religious leaders in their youth talking as if life is only preparation for a Last Judgment that decides whether you’ll spend the rest of eternity in comfort or torture. Everything was about taking a test of accountability that absolutely nobody could pass. Everyone was a criminal who deserved punishment.

These people hear similar thought today when some churches claim you are not a real Christian unless you take certain positions on a couple controversial issues.

The Bible actually defines judgment quite differently. It predominately refers to discerning God’s will in the particularity of life situations.

Although most people think the Old Testament features absolute laws like the Ten Commandments, the scribes called the 613 teachings in the Torah (the first five books) judgments. The word Torah does not mean law but guidance. In a sense they apply the Ten Commandments to real life situations. They are very nuanced instructions providing instructions for living the good life.

Remember there was a period before the monarchy when judges prevailed. They were called forth to provide wisdom when difficult decisions confronted the Israelites. Their finding was a judgment that then provided guidance in the future much like English common law.

Seeing judgment as a trial acquitting oo condemning developed when life after death emerged just previous to and during in the New Testament period. Life under the Romans was so hopeless the good life was delayed until after death. Faith focused on a Last Judgment when evil would be cleansed from the creation. Often to this day that promise of healing has sadly been turned into a threat about passing or failing a divine accounting.

Still in John Jesus uses judgment as discernment. “For judgment I have come into this world, so that t e blind will see and those who see will become blind” (John 9:39). Paul does the same when he writes, :“think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you (Romans 12: 2,3).

Along these lines Paul offers us good advice when he writes, “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister (Romans 14:13).That certainly would open up rather than closing down creative conversation.

Tags: Accountability in a Healthy Society, Accountability in Christianity, Christianity and Judgment, judgment, Judgment as Discernment and Accountability, Judgment as Promise not Threat, Last Judgment