Judgmentalisim

Session Seven

Judgmentalism

We have just one session left after this. 

For me, this chapter was especially eye opening. You see we searched for a while for a new church after what happened at our old one. The people there were not the problem, but for me the building held so much of him that I could not separate the two and really worship there, so we left.

We had heard there was a sweet little church in town that had just installed a reformed pastor, and so we visited. We liked what we heard, and so we stayed. We sat down one Sunday with him and one of the other Elders and told them part of our story, while the kids tramped out the door to go to a Mardi gras parade. We spoke of the hours my husband works, and how many Sundays he may miss church, we spoke of how I would not attend services without my husband (the details for why came later). We were very open and honest about where we were with this new pastor and he nodded and smiled and welcomed us.

We thought we were home.

That is why THIS chapter has been so hard for me. Behind the smiling face and nodding head was a man who really did not agree with the things he heard. Eventually we were told that Mardi Gras parades were not something “good” Christians participated in, and once my husband became a deacon the message delivered from the pulpit was that a deacon was not qualified unless he attended every service.

That is why as I read these chapters I wept.

I’ve denied what I’ve been seeing even as the elders made the decision to fence the communion table at our church, beyond those warning words offered by Paul in I Corinthians 11. It feels as though the grace that WAS being preached there is slowly being replaced by men’s opinions and traditions, and an ultra-conservatism that cannot get you any closer to the hem of His garment than those nails did.

Jerry states that the sin of Judgmentalism is the MOST subtle because it is practiced under the guise of “being zealous for what is right” and that within conservative evangelical circles there are myriads of opinions, but judgmentalism tends to equate its opinions with truth, and this is where the trouble begins. “How easy it is”, Jerry writes, “to become judgmental over issues the Bible does not address OR address with the clarity WE would like.” Many of the issues we become judgmental about as believers, that become dividing points among brethren are really matters of personal conviction. Paul addressed this in I Corinthians 6:12 where he said “Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when compared with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become a slave of anything or brought under its power.”

And that should be our guide: Are we becoming a slave to “it”?

Here are just a few of the issues that I have identified that divide us: 

 Should a woman wear pants, cut her hair or be allowed to teach? What type of music should be allowed in worship, how many services should there be on a Sunday and how many services should a person attend? Should a person work on a Sunday or participate in any activity that is not worship centered?  Should a person consume alcoholic beverages, smoke cigarettes, attend Mardi Gras parades or attend rated R movies?

As Jerry pointed out Paul faced these very issues in his day and addressed it in Romans 14. He asks “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another, To His OWN master he stands or falls.” Jerry is also clear to point out there is a huge difference between agreeing with the word of God about sin, and judging someone according to our personal preferences.

For instance I have a friend who prefers not to consume pork products; I honor her by not preparing pork products in my meal preps when I entertain her and her husband. I do not mock her and belittle her for her convictions.

Another example: Years ago, my father and brother were here visiting and they wanted to go and see a movie on Christmas Eve, directed by my brother’s favorite director, Martin Scorsese. The film was Gangs of New York, it was rated R, and quite graphic. My husband and I hesitated, but we went because we loved my father and brother, we valued our relationship with them and we thought our presence at the movie would show them that we valued their company over any preconceived ideas we had about the movie. The movie was good and historically entertaining but it was also bloody and violent and full of gratuitous sexual scenes that we felt were unnecessary for the telling of the story. Our presence there opened the door to deep theological discussions that we would not have been able to have had we merely read the reviews and given our pious opinions based on someone else’s review. My father and brother were able to hear our hearts, and I believe that spoke to them.

The biggest problem with judgmentalism is not that I am judging my brother, because in John 7:24 we are commanded to “Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously.” The BIGGEST problem with judging one another is that we assume the role of God in our judgments.

We would do well to remember that Paul when addressing these issues in Rome did not, as Jerry mentioned, try to change anyone’s convictions with regard to what they ate or drank or to the special days they observed, but urged them “…let everyone be fully convinced (satisfied) in his own mind. “ Romans 14:5.

I like what Jerry said, “If we take Paul seriously and hold our convictions with humility, it will help us avoid the sin of judgmentalism.”

Let’s get to our questions:

I Judgmentalism

1.      “Judgmentalism begins, “writes the author, when “we equate our opinions with the truth.” What’s the difference between a preference for something (a certain kind of food for example) and a bible based conviction? What can happen when we elevate personal convictions concerning an issue to the level of biblical truth—even when the bible is not clear on a particular issue?

According to dictionary dot com, a preference is: a practical advantage given to one over another, where a conviction is: a fixed or firm belief, so a biblical conviction: would be a fixed belief anchored in what the Bible teaches. 

Jerry does a great job pointing out the differences between a preference and conviction when he discusses how he became judgmental when people began to “dress down” for church sometime during the 1970’s and he then realized that there were no biblical mandates on what one should wear to church.

In fact, in 1Timothy you will find him telling the women what NOT to wear. He asked them not to dress elaborately, or in expensive clothing but modestly and sensibly in seemly clothing, because it was more important to be clothed with good deeds which were more befitting of women who professed devotion to God. (1 Timothy 2:9-10)

That same passage however can be used to support the biblical truth that women should dress modestly. This “should” is much more than a personal conviction, it IS a biblical truth. Jesus warns men that if they lust with their eyes they are committing adultery in their hearts, (Matthew 5:28) as women we become a partner in their sin if we flaunt ourselves knowingly and desire to excite in men (other than our husbands) that type of a reaction. We CAN dress to be attractive and NOT dress seductively.  

Another conviction that has been elevated to biblical truth is the consumption of alcohol.

In Proverbs 23 there is a warning given to those who ‘tarry long at the wine glass’, but notice that the wine itself is not forbidden. In Proverbs 31 wine is told, to be given to those who are in bitter distress of heart. As Jerry pointed out, the key there is not abstinence, but temperance.

When we elevate personal convictions to the level of biblical truth, especially when the Bible is not clear on a particular issue we cause divisions among the body and we weaken our witness to the world. Our arguing and infighting about whether or not we can have a glass of wine with our dinner or which music best glorifies our Lord is lost on the ones who need to hear the message of salvation. WE become a noisy gong and a clanging cymbal; because we do not have love for one another we cannot point them to the One Who IS love.

Remember they will KNOW we are Christians BY our love for each other AND for them.

2.      “It’s easy, “the author writes, “to become judgmental toward anyone whose opinions are different from ours.” Think of a time when you’ve seen this happen. What consequences occurred?

The easiest one for me to recall is anti-drinking. When we were new Christians we were members of a Baptist church and we were being taught, for lack of better terminology, that we were not to “drink, smoke or chew or go with those who do.” Within a short time of professing Christ, we began to shun, not only those activities but the PEOPLE who participated in those activities as well. Our attitude (and I am not proud of the way we behaved) was much like that annoying kid in school who knew the answers to the teachers questions and would raise their hand yelling “ooh, ooh, ooh!” to EVERY question. Do you know the kid I am talking about?

We forgot that we only knew the answer (GRACE) because God gave it to us, and we began to think that NOT drinking, NOT smoking and NOT chewing were making us acceptable in HIS sight. Nothing could be further from the truth. I Corinthians 10:31 reminds us, WHATEVER we eat or drink, whatever we do, make sure we are doing it to honor and glorify  God.

3.      Paul faced judgmentalism head-on (see Romans 14). One group in the church at Rome ate only vegetables and thought they had the moral high ground (see Romans 14:3); another group ate “anything” (presumably meat) and thought they had superior knowledge because what they ate made no difference to God if it was received with thanksgiving (I Timothy 4:4) And each group judged the other. In addition, some believers observed certain days as holy days, and other believers did not.

a.      Read Romans 14:4-5 how would you describe Paul’s response?

Paul admonished the believers there for judging one another. To admonish someone is to caution, to urge or to remind. Paul was reminding them that they were not the Master or final authority in these matters, and that there was One greater who would hold their hearts in these matters. He reminded them of their purpose. In verse 19 he says, “Let us definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and mutual up building and edification and development of one another.”

Their goal, what they were to eagerly pursue was harmony and the building up and edification of one another. They were to actively pursue ways to do this. THIS was their purpose.

b.      What position did Paul take concerning the personal convictions of what people ate or special days they observed?

Paul allowed for people to cater to their consciences. In verse 22 he states “Your personal convictions [on such matters]—exercise [them] as in God’s presence, keeping them to yourself [striving only to know the truth and obey His will].  Blessed, (happy, to be envied) is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves [who does not convict himself by what he chooses to do].”

STRIVING to know the truth, and obey His will. The message here is to our own Master we stand or fall. I keep remembering when Andy and I were Armenian in our doctrine and how we continued to strive to know the truth and continued to do His will and how God in His mercy brought us to a knowledge of the doctrines of Grace, and how He used our former pastor to do it. I mean if he used Balaam’s donkey why not our former pastor, right?

There is a group I am somewhat familiar with called F.I.R.E. it stands for Free Independent Reformed Evangelicals. Its members are comprised of many different Christian faiths. Part of their “creed” if you will is this: in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity. I think that is what Paul is saying here.

There are things we ABSOLUTELY must not waver on as believers. What kind of music we have during worship and whether or not we can enjoy a glass of wine with dinner is not a deal breaker among Christian brethren, that’s all I’m saying. I think that’s what Jerry is saying too.

4.      “Because we do believe so strongly in the importance of sound doctrine, “Jerry writes, “We can easily become hypercritical of those with whom we disagree.” What do you think the proper balance between (a) standing up for key biblical doctrine and (b) expressing disagreement with advocates of unsound doctrine in ways that do not degenerate into character assassination?

The proper balance between standing up for key biblical doctrine and expressing disagreement with unsound doctrine is by NOT allowing yourself to assassinate the person’s character. The person who is trapped in bad theology is not a bad person, they just have bad theology. The key to unwinding bad theology is with the truth, spoken in love. Would you listen to someone who was yelling at you and attacking you and calling you names? The same is true when we speak to our atheist friends. Remaining calm and speaking the truth WITH love will work wonders, or as Mrs. Trula used to say, “You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar darlin.”