Judged the Same Way

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. - Matthew 7:1-5 NIV

A thought while working with several major church transitions, and in parallel conversations with church leaders about public behavior on Social Media.

Twenty years ago, I called out some bad behavior by my boss. In front of the staff. In a rather aggressive and condescending tone. 

Was I right? I still believe I was. 

Was there a reaction? Yes.  

I was placed on probation and told to take an 8 week anger management class.  I got the smack down.  And rightfully so.

But. There was something that happened that still burns me.

When we got alone, my boss used the passage above as a defense. No acknowledgement of the wrong, just “who are you to ever judge?”  And so so many times since I have seen this passage used in this way. If that really is what the passage means, then he would never have any right to correct my performance.  The way this passage gets used is that the eye never gets clear, never has 20/20 vision to really correct.

And frankly, I have to really sit with this passage.

I too want to hide behind, “How dare they?”  And if I’m honest, there are times when I have called out behavior, confronted people with a word, a text, even a look – and I’m still trying to navigate the chasm that created. I didn’t take the speck out before I spoke. Whatever that means.

So, let me clarify something before I go further. If you aren’t a Christ-follower, you still have a sense of what might be right or wrong. If you don’t believe in Satan, there is still a place where you admit that there is an evil in this world, a tangible, physical presence of evil. In light of such, it’s good to remember that every time Satan speaks in the Bible, he uses Scripture. He takes beautiful Truth and twists it into something demonic and self-serving. 

So hear me out. I think Matthew 7:1-5 is easy to use in a demonic way. Yes. I said demonic. You see, there is no mistake in Jesus placing these words end of His Greatest Hits message, his Sermon on the Mount. He spends two chapters outlining His vision for humanity living in peace and walking with Him. And His recipe for how to love God and our neighbors concludes with a key turn of words.

He says, we will be judged “in the same way” and “the measure you use.”

Sit with that for a second. 

Throughout the witness of Scripture, there is discernment, judgement, calling out, pruning – correction is essential for growth. I believe the words “judge not” must be read with “measure” and “way.” In our current conversation de-jour, one might only evoke public gatherings, masks and vaccines and a flood of judgmental comments come to mind, rooted in some truth and clothed in “measures” and “ways” that are not loving at all.  And those exchanges might even evoke the very phrase “loving my neighbor” while not at all considering the “measure” and the “way.”

How then shall we live? 

I believe we start with Apostle Paul’s advice in Ephesians 4:15, “speaking the truth in love.” I like the original Greek intent of “truthing in love.” And this is where it gets direct (judging in love?) for Christ followers, he goes on to speak of what we once were and how we are now to be clothed in “new creation.” Christ followers simply don’t respond the same way as the wider majority. He then alludes to the Sermon on the Mount, saying, “in your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Be angry. Judge. But don’t sin doing it. Don’t give Satan a place to latch on.  Don’t turn away from injustice, wrong, sin but turn towards the brokenness with love.

When I read such words, I then begin wondering. 

I ask, “Did I correct someone because I wanted to see change for the good? Or did I correct them to redirect attention from my own speck or log?” Or “Did I just nuke someone’s reputation without a desire for new life and creation?” It makes me dive deep into what Scripture teaches about the tongue. Oh, how easily we forget the “measure” and the “way.”

It’s time for a necessary word about social media.  

Social media arises out of our desire for connection. And it arises out of our desire for a tribe, for clearer definition about our community. As many have noted, the global village has really revealed itself as a massive web of interconnected villages that keep splitting amoeba-like. This leads me to believe that most humans actually desire some form of conflict in the arena of self-definition.  

And so, an arena for global connectedness can quickly devolve into a virtual Coliseum when two people clash, with any number of onlookers. And what is terrifying about such space is how quickly the discourse becomes less about effecting positive and lasting change, and more about the rising cheers of supportive camps. The confrontation becomes public in the widest sense of the word, and the main players are tempted to quickly shift to defensive postures and “how dare you judge” statements. The “ways” are forgotten.

And so, we end with the next verse from the opening passage. “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces (Matt. 7:6).” If ever there was a verse for social media, this is it. Consider how social media’s public nature really means there is no space for deep interpersonal connection, and seemingly simple words may create a herd of hogs tearing into you. And while you might even say that social media doesn’t effect you in such a way, the pervasive influence of social media effects those who are around you.

En Conclusio

A closing concept.

We often speak of prophecy or prophesying as “telling the future.” That’s almost true.

In many cases throughout the Scripture, prophecy is really “truth telling.” A person will prophesy by saying, “This will be the outcome, if you continue in this way. And if you choose this way, this will be the likely outcome.”  If we speak the truth in love. If we deliver a message of personal conviction with the hope of change. If we desire to be prophets in a hurting and broken world, then we must consider how the medium is the message. This includes the ways and the measures in which we judge.  Paul says, “the one who prophesizes speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort (I Corinthians 14:3).”

Somehow, we need to return to Christ’s way of being moved with compassion when he looked upon the crowds. We need to return to Christ’s way of saying, “Come to me, all who are weary and weighed down with burdens.” To put it bluntly, too many of us are tempted to live in the “turn or burn” hellfire and brimstone approach, even as much as we might reject such a form. Too many are not moved with compassion or add more burdens to the weary. And we will be judged by such behavior if we live in such a way. I actually believe Jesus will look to Christ followers who live in such a way and say, “Yes, you even prophesied (told the truth) in my name, but depart from me for I never knew you. Your actions and words have not displayed a new way of living (Matthew 7:21-23, Matthew 25:31-46).”

How might we deliver a message of truth, whether it’s a wrong against us or a public injustice we witness, in a way that strengthens, encourages, and comforts?

What does it look like to cradle that burning flame of holy discontent God has placed within each of us?

And to then direct it in a warming, enlightening, refining way, letting the Holy Spirit bring the conviction needed for change?