[Starman]

And this is kind of interesting, what Starman and Val are talking about:

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.(Matthew 7:1-5)

So if a murderer is not judgmental of murderous acts/tendancies of others, will he not be judged for his own murderous acts/tendancies?

And if you say, well this doesnt apply for murder... well, then we are back to wo is the judge of what is "too bad" to not be applicable my the words of Matthew??

Actually, no declaration of human rights as arose during the European Age of Enlightenment and as repeated in the USA Constitution and put forth by the United Nations would ever have existed without humans judging certain conduct, such as skinning people alive, cutting off limbs as punishment, savage whippings, wife abuse as evil if the judgment which some claim that we are not entitled to would not have been made.


http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html



http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_le...of_democratic/

[Morganite]

I repeatedly come across the argument that we shouldn't judge.
If we follow that strict reasoning, wouldn't that make being a judge in a court of law a sin
for a Christian? After all, a judge's job is to judge-isn't it?

"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)

http://www.obeygod.com/judgenot.html

I suspect that you know the answer to your question, because you have a pretty good handle on the scriptures.

The judgement that Jesus warns against in his Sermon on the Mount is not related to the administration of justice in properly constituted courts of law set up to administer the statues of a nation, but deals solely with our unauthorised social interactions, many of which, if we are unwise, will cause divisions between relatives, friends, and neighbours.

Jesus seems to be very particular in directing his remarks to fault finders; those who set themselves up as judges and denounce the failings of others, particularly when they themselves have failings that require their time and energies to overcome to make of themselves better persons, less sinful persons, and nicer persons.

While Jesus was teaching the people, publicans and sinners came to hear Him; "and the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying: This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." The Sadducees and Pharisees were finding fault saying, "How is it that this man as great as He pretends to be, eats with publicans and sinners?" They condemned Jesus because of the company he kept. Jesus said to them, Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. Yet, if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

There is a principle here that enables us to live in peace with most other people. If we would have peace we must replace enmity with forbearance, which means to refrain or abstain from finding fault or from condemning others. We have the power to do this if we really cherish in our hearts the ideals of Christ, who said: "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." (Matt.5:23-24)

Note that the Saviour did not say if you have ought against him, but if you find that another has ought against you.

Adding as it were the final layer on the principle of forgiveness on the principle of abstaining from broadcasting the sins of others and of using them as a weapon against them (perhaps to make ourselves seem better than they - the great sin of Pride) Jesus taught For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Jesus teaches that no one who stands at the Judgement Bar of God needing and expecting forgiveness has a hope of receiving it unless they have forgiven others as a principle of their daily lives. Regardless of how justified we believe we are in harbouring grudges against someone who has offended us, we are directed by our sovereign Lord to let it go, and not only let it go, but to forgive them. He does not say that they need to ask or seek forgiveness from us, only that we should give it. He adds a warning that if we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven.

To go back to your question, yes, it is the job of a judge to judge. But it is not the job of the rank and file of God's church and kingdom to pronounce judgement against each other.


M:)RGANITE