Author	Thread: Judgement vs Discernment
Admin	Judgement vs Discernment Posted : 30 Apr, 2014 02:43 PM What is the difference between discernment and being judgmental? It is important to understand the difference between being judgmental and discerning truth from error. In Matt. 7:1, the Lord said, �Do not judge lest you be judged.� Then, in verses 2-5 he warns against trying to correct others without first correcting what is wrong in our own lives. If we deal honestly deal with our own hearts, etc., then we have the responsibility to help others. But there is also a warning in verse 6. He said, �Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine� (vs. 6). How can we know that someone, in their spiritual condition, is like a dog or a pig (i.e., someone who is incapable of appreciating the truth�apathetic, cold, indifferent), unless you judge, discern their character or their spiritual condition? This passage does not teach that judgments should never be made. In fact, Matthew 7:5 specifically speaks of removing the speck from your brother�s eye. But the Lord�s point is that no one is qualified nor able to do that if they are habitually critical or condemnatory of the specks in someone else�s eye when they themselves have a plank�a hyperbole for effect�in their own eye. Such are not truly interested in righteousness, only in playing spiritual king of the mountain. So, as in selecting elders and deacons for office (1 Tim. 3), judgment is sometimes needed, but those making the distinctions (krino�, judge, means �to distinguish� and thus �to decide�) must first be certain of their own lives and their motives. We need to ask questions like, Am I doing this to show how much I know? Am I trying to play spiritual king of the mountain? Do I think I am better than they are because I know something they do not know? These are some of the logs that we must remove from our own eyes (hearts). We are not judging people when we discern behavior or beliefs that are clearly unbiblical. For an excellent passage on having a judgmental spirit versus a discerning spirit, read Paul�s teaching on the problem of doubtful or questionable things in Romans 14. Furthermore when seeking to help others, we must exercise care to discern their spiritual appetites and do what would be appreciated and beneficial. We need to test the waters, so to speak. Ask a question in a non-threatening way to see if they might be open to discussion. �Would you be interested in what the Bible has to say about astrology?� We do this because one should never entrust holy things (what is sacred) to unholy people (dogs; cf. �dogs� in Phil. 3:2) or throw ... pearls to pigs. Dogs and pigs were despised in those days. This is one of the reasons the Lord spoke in parables. He did so to hide truth from the indifferent and to reveal it to those who were hungry and prepared. Finally, remember that the ultimate issue is not seeking to get people to change their behavior, but come to know and believe in Christ. This includes biblical repentance, but in a salvation context, that means recognizing their sinful condition and need and turning from their sources of trust (religion, human will power, cultism, astrology, etc.) to trust in Jesus and His death for their sin. It does not mean cleaning up their lives and then trusting in Christ. Only Christ can change lives in a way that is significant. Post Reply
DontHitThatMark View Profile History	Judgement vs Discernment Posted : 2 May, 2014 08:08 AM The only ones we're allowed to execute judgment on are those claiming to be Christians. If they aren't Christian, then we have no business getting involved in determining the standards they have to live up to, that is God's job. But, if you claim to be living up to God's standard and you willingly disregard those standards, you have no business calling yourself a Christian. 1 Corinthians 5 9I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. :peace::peace: Post Reply
View Profile History	Judgement vs Discernment Posted : 3 May, 2014 08:35 AM I should expect such harsh judgement coming from a 7th day adventist! Afterall, your of a religion based on works! Post Reply
View Profile History	Judgement vs Discernment Posted : 4 May, 2014 06:05 PM Humble Pie! Not so humble here! "I should expect such harsh judgement coming from a 7th day adventist! Afterall, your of a religion based on works!" :devil: It seems you have made your point. If I were to discern rather than judge I would say that DHTM has expressed a very basic principle of the teachings of Jesus. You on the other hand stand ready to accuse without enough knowledge to understand what has been said. He had the nerve to quote the Bible to prove his point. That is indeed an act of cultic judgement. When will these believers in Jesus get it together and become Christians like you? :angeldevil: Ummmm hopefully never! :dunce: OK enough of my cynical sarcasm. Here's a serious question. Keeping in mind that Jesus was not a Christian, must we assume that you believe that Jesus' religion was one based on works also? Just wondering. :peace: :peace: Post Reply
View Profile History	Judgement vs Discernment Posted : 8 May, 2014 09:58 AM Sweet I disagree with that: " It does not mean cleaning up their lives and then trusting in Christ. " Without repentance there is NO salvation! Repentance is when we STOP committing sins TURNING from them to God to live a GODLY life. If you kill people then you should STOP killing to be saved. This is REPENTANCE! it applies to other sexual immoral sins too... Post Reply
View Profile History	Judgement vs Discernment Posted : 8 May, 2014 09:59 AM DontHitThatMark I agree with you. :applause: Post Reply
DontHitThatMark View Profile History	Judgement vs Discernment Posted : 9 May, 2014 01:01 PM My salvation is not based on works, my "works", imperfect as they are, are a result of my love for God. I can officially state as an Adventist, which you apparently are not, that Adventists do not base their salvation on works, but as people who claim to be following Christ, to walk as He walked, to be His ambassadors in this life, we have a standard that we are called to live by. Jesus's command is perfection, "Go, and sin no more". He provides the power, and mercy is provided when we falter. A judgmental(and therefore hypocritical) works-based religion is worthless, but a changed heart that hungers and thirsts for righteousness is blessed. Paul had many judgments he leveled against the early church out of love for them, as did Jesus and all the apostles. It's the motive behind the judgment/discernment that makes it bad or good. If I walk up to a christian who likes to beat his wife and I tell him that what he's doing is wrong and he should stop if he wants to please the Master he claims to follow, does that make me an evil judgmental christian? There are two answers to that question. Yes, it does make me a bad christian if I point it out to make him seem a worse sinner than me. No, it does not make me a bad christian if I tell him because I care for him and the people he hurts. 2 Timothy 2 24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. James 1 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. 1 John 2 1My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Matthew 7 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. :peace::peace: Post Reply
View Profile History	Judgement vs Discernment Posted : 9 May, 2014 01:27 PM Ive done many a study on your religion! I know from where you stand. Post Reply
View Profile History	Judgement vs Discernment Posted : 9 May, 2014 03:44 PM Versavia please tell me in scripture where Jesus said" now first you need to be clean before you come to me" Show me plz. John 6:47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. The article I posted does mention repentance: Finally, remember that the ultimate issue is not seeking to get people to change their behavior, but come to know and believe in Christ. This includes biblical repentance, but in a salvation context, that means recognizing their sinful condition and need and turning from their sources of trust (religion, human will power, cultism, astrology, etc.) to trust in Jesus and His death for their sin. Granted, I should have reworded some it because as its written it was misunderstood/ misinterpreted here already a few times! Post Reply
View Profile History	Judgement vs Discernment Posted : 9 May, 2014 04:02 PM DHTM: As far as I can see here the article does show the difference between discerning and judging and explains why! You didnt read it over carefully enough. "Furthermore when seeking to help others, we must exercise care to discern their spiritual appetites and do what would be appreciated and beneficial. We need to test the waters, so to speak. Ask a question in a non-threatening way to see if they might be open to discussion. �Would you be interested in what the Bible has to say about astrology?� We do this because one should never entrust holy things (what is sacred) to unholy people (dogs; cf. �dogs� in Phil. 3:2) or throw ... pearls to pigs. Dogs and pigs were despised in those days. This is one of the reasons the Lord spoke in parables. He did so to hide truth from the indifferent and to reveal it to those who were hungry and prepared." The paragraph I pasted here is about discerning! Now what you did is to come in and say anyone who doesnt know the difference has no business calling themselves a christian! If you cant see how CONDEMNING that statement was then I feel sorry for you!! Im sure you are the model of "christian" arent you?!! So you claim to be a Bible scholar and you do no wrong? Because you know by your own admission: If a mistake is made then you have no right to call yourself a christian!! Christians are FALIBLE so therefore NONE are perfect so YES,your comment was HARSH. It may have behooved you to read the article over a few times before you jumped to conclusions. But the article does differentiate between judgement and discernment. It may have been written where it may be a bit confusing at a glance but it did indeed show the difference. Furthermore, I have been researching your "religion" and I have yet to find an article by a reputable source that stands behind it! Post Reply
View Profile History	Judgement vs Discernment Posted : 9 May, 2014 04:10 PM SBD: He may have but that wasnt my point! He obviously didnt read the article over in its entirety! AND he came in and judged that if one does have a bad day and happen to judge someone of the world :well then they have no business saying they are a christian then!! And as far as the SDA religion goes: Do your homework and get back to me. Ive done mine!!! Post Reply

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