Be a Careful Judge

     I just recently purchased a new bible.   It's a paper bible, and I've really enjoyed using it.   It's a KJV Cambridge Topaz.   But that's beside the point.   It's a bible.   And I love this bible.  I'm reading every single verse of Scripture once again, but this time I'm going through cover to cover from Genesis to Revelation.  And one of the things I like about bible study, and not systematic or topical theological study, and taking your time, looking at the scriptures carefully, and taking notes as you work your way through the scriptures, is that you get to see things you've never seen before, or you've forgotten about, or that you simply passed over in the past without thinking too much about it.  And that's what's been happening for me lately.   The scriptures are really being opened up to me, and I am seeing some neat things.  I would encourage everyone to put down all the books, and all the theologians, and all the church creeds and confessions.   Stop listening to YouTube videos and sermon audio sermons for a little bit.   And just pick up the scriptures... and READ.   Let it all soak in.  Enjoy your time with God's word to you.

     So here I am today, and I just finished the book of Joshua.   And in chapter twenty-two we have Israel having been brought into the promised land.  Israel's enemies have been delivered into their hand by the almighty God.   The Lord has handed down His law to them, and you can see repeated over and over throughout the books of Moses that Israel is to abstain from idolatry and following other gods. They are to abstain from idolatry.   Unfortunately for them, however, they have repeatedly broken God's commandment and have suffered for it.  But these experiences have been great teaching moments for the Israelites, and they have left an indelible impression on the people.   They have reformed themselves, and they are being careful not to violate God's covenant again.

     But trouble awaits!  As soon as the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh entered into Gilead, they built an altar! (Jos 22:9-10)  And when the rest of Israel heard about this they were quite angry!   They understood what the consequences were for idolatry.   They knew that God would not tolerate this disobedience, and they didn't want to suffer consequences on behalf of the disobedience of their brethren.  So in their anger, they marched into the land of Gilead, prepared to do battle with their brethren, and demanded an answer.

“What is this unfaithful act which you have committed against the God of Israel, turning away from following the LORD this day, by building yourselves an altar, to rebel against the LORD this day?" - Jos 22:16, NASB 

     I imagine they were incredulous!  But ask yourself this.   How many times have you felt this way about other people?   How many times have you seen people doing something you think is very wrong, even idolatrous?  When you see a woman with a cross on a necklace around her neck, do you automatically think she's an idolator?  Do you think she's not a Christian because she's turned to idolatry and does not take the blood of Christ very seriously?  What about the young believer who has pictures of Christ in his house?  Is he an idolator?   I'm of the opinion that we should abstain from icons and religious symbolism, as these things certainly can be idols.   The Scriptures tell us to abstain from even the appearance of evil.  But just because someone appears to be engaging in evil in our sight, it doesn't mean that what they are doing actually is evil. The heart of man is desperately wicked, and who can know it?  (Jer. 17:9)

     And what about us?  Are there things that we do that others might think are evil, but in our hearts and our minds, we do not see them this way?  Certainly our perception does not determine if something is wicked.   I may be sinning, and just be blissfully unaware of my transgressions.  I may be ignorant.   But what about the man that has a beer with his meal, exercising the liberty the Lord has granted him?   Some might call that a wicked thing, as it might lead to drunkenness.  But maybe a beer is just a beer, and it's just a delicious drink to be consumed.  One beer doesn't make people drunk.

     But this altar, it was just too much for the other tribes of Israel.  They angrily marched into Gilead, and demanded an answer.   They were angry - and in their minds, righteously so.  This was a flagrant violation of the Lord's covenant with Israel, and they perceived the danger of allowing this altar to stand.   They were ready to knock it over and do battle with their brethren over it.  Their very lives depended on this, and they did not want to face the anger of the Lord once again.  But take a look at the response of the Israelites who built the altar. 

Then the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered and spoke to the heads of the families of Israel. “The Mighty One, God, the LORD, the Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows, and may Israel itself know. If it was in rebellion, or if in an unfaithful act against the LORD, do not save us this day! If we have built us an altar to turn away from following the LORD, or if to offer a burnt offering or grain offering on it, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offerings on it, may the LORD Himself demand it. But truly we have done this out of concern, for a reason, saying, ‘In time to come your sons may say to our sons, “What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you sons of Reuben and sons of Gad; you have no portion in the LORD.” So your sons may make our sons stop fearing the LORD.’

“Therefore we said, ‘Let’s build an altar, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice; rather, it shall be a witness between us and you and between our generations after us, that we are to perform the service of the LORD before Him with our burnt offerings, our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings, so that your sons will not say to our sons in time to come, “You have no portion in the LORD.”’ Therefore we said, ‘It shall also come about if they say this to us or to our generations in time to come, then we shall say, “See the copy of the altar of the LORD which our fathers made, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice; rather, it is a witness between us and you.”’ Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD and turn away from following the LORD this day, by building an altar for burnt offering, for grain offering, or for sacrifice, besides the altar of the LORD our God which is before His tabernacle.” - Jos 22:21-29, NASB

     And just like that the wrath of the offended Israelites was extinguished.  They realized that this altar was not idolatrous.   They understood it was a remembrance.  They had misjudged the heart of their brethren.   And in doing so, they nearly went to battle over something that could have just been cleared up by talking a little bit.  

     And I have to ask myself some questions when I'm faced with situations like these in my personal life.   And maybe you can ask yourself these questions as well.   Am I a careful judge?   Or am I a hasty careless judge?  Can I read someone's heart?  Do I know the intentions of their souls?  I know that I haven't always been that way.   I've been quick to judge, quick to condemn, and hard to hear.  Not always, but many times I've been this way.  I've judged by appearances.  I've portended to read men's minds.  And I've hurt others in my harsh judgments.   All the while, I've pretended to myself and others that on the inside that I'm not a pharisee.  

     Oh would it be true, that as believers, we would learn to exercise caution in our judgments of others regarding their acceptance or rejection of Gospel principles. We should exercise patience and discern between fundamental beliefs that are non-negotiable and those that allow for differing interpretations.  This discernment extends to recognizing the basic tenets required for newcomers to the Gospel and the deeper understandings that come with spiritual growth.  And I believe that pressuring immediate adherence to every doctrinal sticking point that has meaning in our lives, it can hinder rather than facilitate understanding.  When someone rejects a core doctrine or engages in a practice we believe to be sinful, we must be careful to distinguish between those who do so out of ignorance or some other purpose and those who do so intentionally.   It's essential to differentiate between individuals who are seeking clarity amidst confusion and those who actively oppose fundamental truths.  But most of all, we should try to judge the heart and the intentions of others, and not necessarily rush to conclusions based on appearances.  Appearances can be deceiving.

   May the Lord grant to us patience, kindness, and the wisdom to judge rightly.   May we judge all things in Christ our Righteousness.  Grace and Peace! - B.