Untitled article | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, August 13, 1867

Judge not that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.

These verses do not forbid the magistrate to judge, and pass sentence on criminals; or the rulers of the church to censure and exclude such members as disgrace their profession; or Christians to withdraw from every brother that walks disorderly; for these are duties expressly enjoined in Scripture. In like manner it cannot be supposed, that our Lord intended to forbid his disciples to form a judgment of men's state and character according to their avowed principles and visible conduct; for in this very chapter he directs us to judge by this rule, and indeed many duties to others absolutely require us to form some judgment both in respect to their state and their actions. But we ought not to be officious, rash or severe in forming our judgment, nor hasty in declaring it. We should judge as favorably as we can where the fundamentals of Christianity are professed, and not disgraced by an inconsistent conduct. We ought to put the best construction on doubtful actions, and never ascribe apparently good ones to bad motives, without full proof; to shun curious inquiries into men's conduct, and injurious suspicions; and steadily to avoid giving our opinions to any man's disadvantage, without some duty requires it of us; or condemn whole sects and societies of men except as the scripture evidently condemns them. We should, as far as we can, shun every thing which savors of malevolence or spiritual pride; for the opinion which the Christian must form of the state of the world and the hearts of men, though he do not needlessly apply it to individuals, will give sufficient offence; and it ought not to be increased by rash and harsh judgments in particular cases.

He who is habitually propense to this self-sufficient, presumptuous, and censorious judgment of others, gives them great cause to suspect that he is devoid of true grace itself, and exposed to judgment without mercy from God. If a Christian gives way to so evil a spirit and practice, he may expect sharp corrections; nay, both the world and the church will commonly judge of men, according to their method of judging of others. Thus in every sense it is verified, that with what measure we mete it shall be measured to us again.—Scott's Notes.

While we are careful not to call evil good and darkness light, we should also guard against a censorious spirit, the offspring of pride and petulance, or we shall prepare bitterness for ourselves, and may expect sharp rebukes from God, and harsh censures from man. But why should we who have so much to be humbled for and to rectify in our own conduct, officiously expose our brother's faults, which perhaps are far less heinous than our own? Rather let us seek for far more self-knowledge, a sounder judgment, deeper humility; and grace to walk more circumspectly; that if we have the opportunity, we may have ability, influence, and tenderness, to counsel, caution, and reprove our brethren with propriety and efficacy.—Scott's Practical Observations.