Judging: the Balance Between Grace and Truth

I am currently reading Breaking the Islam Code by J.D. Greear, and WOW what a book! Greear is Pastor at The Summit Church of Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Greear completed his Ph.D. in Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary concentrating primarily on Christian and Islamic theology. He is also currently a faculty member there. He lived and served with the SBC’s International Mission Board among Muslims for two years, and he offers a profound insight into the way Muslims think and feel. His web site contains blog writings, sermons and videos. I wholeheartedly recommend spending some time reading and learning on this site http://www.jdgreear.com/

I spent a lot of time in the last year struggling to balance what the Bible teaches about some moral/social issues and how to recognize that without judging. After reading one of the sermon discussions on Greear’s website, I am finally clear about that balance.  The article is 7 Signs That You’re “Judging” Others and you can check it out at: http://www.jdgreear.com/?s=7+signs+that+you%27re+judging+others.

In it, Greear points out that ‘Judge not’ is one of the most popular Bible verses in our society. He says “people love ‘judge not’ because it seems to be a handy way of saying, ‘You can’t tell me I’m wrong.’” He points out that if you make a public assessment on just about any moral issue, your likely to see this verse used as a deflective weapon. Greear points out that in John 7:7 Jesus told his disciples that the world hates him “because I testify about it that its works are evil.” So, Greear explains, “Jesus couldn’t have meant that we’re all supposed to just throw up our hands and say, ‘Hey to each his own. Who am I to judge?’”  There is a balance between grace and truth Greear relates, “so don’t judge others by withholding the truth. But don’t judge them by speaking the truth without grace.” I totally get this. 

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