Posted: 05/14/07

Part 2 of 2)

The Judgment Principle

How could Serdar Tatar's Dad have not known why his son wanted to "go Jihad"?

So the point Jesus was making, in Mathew 7, wasn't not to judge but rather that we should judge ourselves first, honestly: "…then you can see clearly…"

Now why would Jesus say this? - Because everyone judges ALL the time. I remember my dad telling me to use my "common sense" and be discerning in choosing my friends; where I went; what classes I took; what girls I liked, etc... My dad understood that we all judge one another constantly and he wanted me to do so wisely.

The matter here is not about whether we judge but how we judge. When you are honest with yourself you will be straight with another over their actions. A wise man, Leroy Linscott Headley, put it this way when he said, "An honest man cannot be conned." Those words spoke volumes to me as I grew in my faith because I understood what he said. You must first be honest with yourself and then no one can fool you with their lies or their flattery; no evil person will be able to pull you into their evil. The result of being honest is wise judgment: The Judgment Principle.

Until I was willing to be honest about my sin; about who I really was, then all I was concerned about was trying to be everyone's friend. But once I was "an honest man" I didn't worry myself with what people thought of me any more: I was much more concerned about whether God was proud of me; whether my God was happy with me, the One who rescued me when I didn't deserve rescuing.

God curses the man who trusts in man; He says we must make Him our strength; must trust in Him alone... (Jeremiah 17:5-8 (WEB)) And once you know Jesus, know God, you understand very well "why."

If you lie to yourself, you'll lie for everyone else, too, just to cover up your own mess. But, like Dad says, "Honesty is the best policy." He didn't realize how right he really was. Thankfully I had someone who cared enough to explain what that meant. I hope you will hear it as well.

Jesus understood this rule I call "The Judgment Principle" very well, because He knows our hearts. Jesus knows we will evaluate one another; so His point was to instead make us see who we must judge first, that we may then bring Life and Salvation to another who desperately needs to hear the truth from us about them.

Perhaps if Cho had heard from enough "honest men," he might not have killed anyone.
Perhaps Ted would have seen he wasn't being honest with himself and repented for the first time a lot sooner, preventing the name of Jesus from receiving dishonor at his hand.
Perhaps if the next serial killer hears the truth from an honest man, he may never become that mass murderer.
Maybe you need to hear this…

So, when you hear of a dad refusing to admit his own son's evil, know that man is being dishonest with himself.

When you read the mom of a serial killer still calling her son a "good boy," even after knowing what he has done, know she has unrepentant sin in her life.

Notice the lone young man and see if he might need an honest friend; one willing to tell him the truth and save his life and many others as well.

When the High Priests of Psychology rant, those liars so often run to by media outlets for answers to why and how someone could do such a thing; when men need to explain how we are all still "good" using Psychology, be wise, trust God.

When these "experts" we all hear from in the news shows are so quick to excuse a person's evil, blaming society, or a bad dad, or that he didn't get hugged enough rather than agreeing with God Who says man is evil beyond our own understanding, then remember this:
 

Unless you judge yourself honestly, you will not be honest with anyone else.

So take the Test! Judge YOURSELF the way God requires NOW; BE righteous before a Just and Holy God; BE an honest man.

ONLY THEN can you deal wisely with the evil in other men... Only then will you know "why"...
 

Patrick Burwell
OnlyJesusSaves.com 

Footnotes:

(1) Jeremiah 17:9 (WEB)

(2) Psalms 14:1 (WEB)

(3) Romans 2

(3) Jeremiah 17:5 (WEB)

.If you do not desire to deliver the lost from Hell, then whose are you?.
.For Evangelism Resources, please visit LivingWaters.com.
To learn how to share your faith biblically, simply and effectively begin here.

All WayoftheMaster.com and Livingwaters.com materials and media are under copyright protection.

By Patrick Burwell Click here for bio and archived articles