By Coach Dave Daubenmire
March 27, 2025
I suppose it is dangerous to write about this topic…seeing how the idea of “judging” is no longer kosher in American Christianity. In fact, “Judge not”, a partial statement taken out of context by many American Christians, is the modern command of those practicing modern soft American Evangelical Christianity.
An all-loving, never-angry Christian God has been adopted by many American pulpits as TRUTH languishes in the streets waiting for some brave pulpiteer to re-introduce to our American society a sin-hating, justice loving King of Kings.
For those of you who might be wondering Jesus actually upped the ante on judging. Far from banishing judgement he made it personal. The JUDGE NOT Christians fail to tell you the whole story. He made it personal regarding our own behavior,
Here is what the ONE who died for our sins actually said regarding judgement.
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye meet, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
The admonition of Jesus was not to stop judging…but to stop judging hypocritically. Once you clean up your own life then you can effectively clean up the life of another man. Do not criticize someone for exhibiting the same behaviors in which you are engaging. We can only see clearly after seeing the inconsistencies in our own lives.
Come on now…what kind of person does not judge? Our entire existence is based on judgements…should I…shouldn’t I…will I…won’t I…when, where, why, why not. It is impossible to live without making judgment calls.
The Bible teaches that Jesus is the Judge. In fact, the Book of Revelation teaches us that we will ALL have a Judgement Day.
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
Stay with me here. Have you ever been in a court room? Court is a place where evidence is presented before a JUDGE who has the power to pronounce a JUDGEMENT based on the evidence presented. Hence, THE BOOKS referenced in the above Scripture contain the EVIDENCE that will be presented to the Judge. The JUDGE will pronounce guilt or innocence after reviewing the evidence (books).
Sooo…the Christians’ roll is one of a WITNESS. The job of the witness is to testify to the veracity of the evidence. A witness does not JUDGE, a witness TESTIFYS! Testifying is not JUDGING. Testifying is BEARING WITNESS regarding the evidence. EYEwitness is the most credible testimony in a courtroom.
America is in a mess today, not because of the lack of JUDGES, but because of the lack of WITNESSES! EVERY Believer is called to testify…be a witness…to the Truth of God’s Word. Testifying is not JUDGING. TESTIFYING is presenting EVIDENCE of the TRUTH of what God’s laws say.
Matthew 22:36 “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Pointing out that a person’s behavior is wrong is not being judgmental. It is one of the greatest forms of love. I often hear people say that we should “share the Truth in love.” My friends, sharing the TRUTH regarding harmful, sinful behavior IS love. It is the BEHAVIOR that is sin. We have a duty to point it out.
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Pointing out sinful behavior is TRAINING. The Scriptures tell us to “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Training requires direction, correction, and discipline. It is SO important that the Bible tells us “whom the Lord loves He disciplines…
Saying “NO” to immoral behavior was God’s idea. If we love our family and friends, then we will tell them the TRUTH.
Truth often sounds and feels like HATE. Testify to the Truth. It may leave a mark.
But only the TRUTH can make one free.
© 2025 Dave Daubenmire – All Rights Reserved
E-Mail Dave Daubenmire: ptsalt@gmail.com
