p. 3 | Judge Not by C. P. Bollman

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 28, 1910

Judge Not

By C. P. Bollman

C. P. BOLLMAN

The Bible injunction, “Judge not, that ye be not judged,” is not designed to teach indifference to sin, nor a failure to recognize sin as such when it appears either in our own lives or in the lives of others.

To close our eyes to sin, to refuse to see that transgression is sin, is something akin to refusing to see an open ditch by the highway. He who closes his eyes to the ditch is in danger of falling therein; and he who closes his eyes to sin, who refuses to recognize wrong where wrong exists, and who apologizes for evil, is likely sooner or later to fall into that sin himself.

It is not true that seeing sin in others is evidence, as some are teaching, that the one who sees it is himself guilty of the same or of a like sin. To establish such a proposition would be to paralyze all effort for the uplifting of others. The apostle does not say, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, close your eyes and refuse to see the evil; but he does say: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Gal. 6:1.

Moral principle does not change. That which was moral principle under the Levitical system is moral obligation now. In the words quoted from Gal. 6:1 the apostle only puts in other phrase the injunction of Lev. 19:17: “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him.”

Instead of becoming partakers in sin

by recognizing and rebuking it, it is by this very means that we clear ourselves of participation in the sins of others; while even silently to acquiesce in wrong-doing is to become a partaker in the sin. “If wrongs are apparent among his people, and if the servants of God pass on indifferent to them, they virtually sustain and justify the sinner, and are alike guilty, and will just as surely receive the displeasure of God; for they will be made responsible for the sins of the guilty.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. III, page 266.

Again: we are told that “the close work of the Spirit of God is needed now as never before. Stupidity must be shaken off. We must arouse from the lethargy that will prove our destruction unless we resist it. Satan has a powerful, controlling influence upon minds. Preachers and people are in danger of being found upon the side of the powers of darkness. There is no such thing now as a neutral position. We are all decidedly for the right, or decidedly with the wrong. Christ said, ‘He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.’”—“Gospel Workers,” page 86.

But it may be asked, If we are to be thus on the alert to see and to rebuke sin, what becomes of the injunction, “Judge not”? Properly understood and conscientiously obeyed, there is no conflict in the instruction quoted from the Bible and the Testimonies. James 2:4 affords us an inspired comment, as it were, upon our Saviour’s injunction, “Judge not.” In rebuking some who were taking a wrong course, the apostle says: “Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”

It must be remembered that it does not necessarily follow that because one does wrong, he intends wrong. While we are in no case to excuse sin or to lower the standard of Christian living, calling sin righteousness, putting evil for good, or calling good evil, we are not to attribute evil motives where it is possible no evil was intended. It is frequently the case that individuals are betrayed into sin by the deceptions of the enemy. Such persons are to be labored for and with, but are not to be harshly condemned. Such labor should be bestowed wisely, judiciously, and in the spirit, not of the accuser, but of the Master.

Only God can weigh the motives; hence only God can determine the degree of guilt. A wrong act, or even a wrong course of conduct extending over some time, may appear to us to be much worse than it really is, or than it is intended to be by the one who is at fault in it; or such act or such course of conduct may be worse than it appears to us, because of the evil motive back of it, which we can not see. It is the motive that determines in very large measure the degree of guilt. God alone can read the motive; hence God alone can judge the sinner.

Let not the reader misunderstand us in this; conscience is not the standard. It is not true that it makes little or no difference what one believes and practises so long as he is sincere in it. Believing that a thing is right does not make it right. The law of God is the standard; and sin is sin whether we recognize it or not; and when recognized, it is to be confessed, repented of, and put away, no matter how good the intentions when the act was done. See Leviticus 4, 5, especially chapter 4: 22-24, 27-29.

But while ignorance does not transform unrighteousness into righteousness, the Lord does take into account the motives and the sinner’s opportunities to know the right, and above all, the intents of the heart—that is, whether or not the will is surrendered to the divine will. The principle is set forth by our Saviour in these words: “That servant, which knew his Lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” Luke 12: 47, 48.

It is well, however, to remember in this connection that wilful ignorance, indulged for the purpose of escaping moral obligation, is itself rebellion against God, and that we shall be held responsible for that which we might have known of God’s will but refused, and for the good we might have done, but for which we were too indolent to prepare ourselves, or for which we refused to prepare that we might escape responsibility. May God help us to sense the solemnity of the times in which we are living.

Nashville, Tenn.