Luke 6:41,

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?

“None are more unjust in their judgments of others than those who have a high opinion of themselves.”

―Charles Spurgeon

“We need to stop thinking that our priority duty toward our fellow believers is to critique them, it's not. Our primary duty is to love them.”

―Francis Chan

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”

―Mother Teresa

“Judging someone does not define who they are… it defines who you are.”

―Unknown

“Those who spend their time looking for the faults in others usually make no time to correct their own.”

―Art Jonak

“I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them

1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy
2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against, and
3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”

―John Wesley, The journal of John Wesley

John 8:1-11,

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

1. Judging is out of control.
2. Judging is harmful and dangerous.
3. Judging is superficial.
4. Judging is costly.
5. Judging is easy and enjoyable.

• Judging - the act of forming an opinion often based on fear
• Discernment - the process of evaluating based on facts

Hebrews 5:14,

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Attitude

• Judging – Superior to inferior
• Discernment – Compassion

Speed

• Judging – Quickly
• Discernment – Slow & Deliberate

Perspective

• Judging – Fixed
• Discernment – Being aware that your perspective isn’t the only one

Decision-Making

• Judging – Solid / Fixed       
• Discernment – Flexibility

Motivation

• Judging – Self-centered pride
• Discernment – Position of love and understanding

• Goal
• Judging – To condemn and shame
• Discernment – To correct and restore

Approach

• Judging – Law and legalism
• Discernment - Grace

1. Remember that there’s only one judge and you’re not it.
2. Remember that the measure you use to judge will be used on you.
3. Remember to first focus on yourself before you judge others.
4. Remember to release the same grace you have received to others.
5. Remember that the world needs your compassion and love more than it needs your opinions.

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