Quakerwidow wrote:
with whatever judgment you judge, you shall be judged
First, Quakerwidow, you need to read the passage in context…and read the whole post so you'll understand.
Matthew 7:1-2 (NASB)
1 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
In verse 1, the Greek words translated “judge” and “judged” is “krino,” which means "to judge to the place of condemnation." It's when you're in someone's face, so to speak, pointing your finger at them, and condemning them.
In Romans 16:17, Paul instructs the early church to “keep [their eyes] on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which [they] learned, and turn away from them.” And in Galatians 1:8, he writes, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” So, there is a need to judge, but not to the place of condemnation. Rather, we are to judge for identification and for restoration. We are to love people enough that when we see them erring, we are to say to them lovingly, "Because I care about you, I want you to know that you're going in the wrong direction."
You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. Leviticus 19:17
Don't hate your brother, but love him by not allowing him to continue in his sin.
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Galatians 6:1
According to Scripture, we must make some judgments and identification. But we are not to have an attitude of condemnation. How do we know if we're condemning people? If we're am not willing to partake in restoration, then we are probably practicing condemnation. When Jesus walked into the Upper Room where His disciples were sitting, He noticed they had dirty feet. Did He point His finger and say, "You guys, why don't you wash your stinky feet? It's a mess up here." No. John 13 says He rose from supper, girded Himself with a towel, and began to wash their feet Himself. Likewise, we do not have the right to point out someone's dirty feet unless we're willing to kneel down and wash them.
Verse 2 says that the manner in which we judge is the way we will be judged. Is it the manner in which we will be judged by God? No. All our sins have been dealt with on the Cross of Calvary. Then who is going to judge me? People will. If we are critical of others, pointing out dirt on their feet with no intention of restoring, healing, or helping, we are going to find that same kind of judgment hurled at us.
In the first chapter of the Book of Judges, the men of Judah said to the men of Simeon, "There's a camp of Canaanites over in this valley. Let's go take them on." After beating the Canaanites soundly, the Israelites captured Adoni-bezek, the Canaanite king, and chopped off his thumbs and big toes. Why? Adoni-bezek himself gave the answer when he said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and their big toes cut off used to gather up scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has repaid me” (Judges 1:7).
If you chop up someone, or cut down someone, watch out. Jesus said the way you judge is the way you'll be judged.