Judging vs. Discerning 
But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age,
even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised
to discern both good and evil. (Heb. 5:14)
|
Judging vs. Discerning |
| by David A. DePra |
| Jesus plainly stated that we are not to judge others. But |
| so often His words are used against Christians who are trying to |
| point out wrong in society. And it seems that so few Christians |
| know how to answer such objections. |
| So what should you do if, upon seeing evil in the world, and |
| stating your convictions regarding it, you are told that you have no |
| business judging others? Are Christians to become mindless |
| people who can't tell the difference between good and evil? Is |
| this mindless condition something we are to strive for? |
| First of all, there is a big difference between judging someone, |
| and discerning evil. The two are not the same at all. In |
| the Bible, the word "judge" is often a woeful translation of the |
| Greek word "katakrino." This word literally means "to judge |
| against." In other words, it really means "to condemn." But there |
| is another Greek word, "krino," which is often translated |
| "to discern." "Krino" literally means "to separate." Or, to put it |
| more clearly, it means "to separate the good from the bad." |
| These two words aptly show the contrast between judging |
| someone, which God forbids, and discerning, which God desires. |
| "To judge" means to condemn. It means to render a sentence |
| against someone as if you are God. And "to judge," the way |
| Jesus forbade it, is always a product of a bad attitude. It stems |
| from never having seen that you are as needy as the one whom |
| you are condemning. "To discern," however, carries no |
| desire to see someone "get what is coming to them." True |
| discernment doesn't condemn at all. It simply sees things as they |
| really are, with the mind of Christ. |
| True discernment carries no blinders. It sees evil. And it |
| confesses what it sees if the love of God dictates it. Don't think |
| that the love of God would avoid pointing out evil in society. Read |
| the gospels. Jesus continually upbraided the Pharisees, yet He |
| said He judged (condemned) no man. Jesus knew the difference |
| between judging and discerning. He always discerned. He never |
| judged. |
| Rather than be blind to evil, Christians will become more |
| sensitive to it -- if they are getting closer to God. Getting closer |
| to God and developing His mind will not make us less sensitive to |
| sin. It will make us more sensitive to sin. And it will give us the |
| ability to discern things the way God discerns them -- clearly, but |
| in love. |
| The book of Hebrews gives us a verse which tells us that |
| it is God's will for us to discern the difference between good and |
| evil: |
But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, |
even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised |
to discern both good and evil. (Heb. 5:14) |
| It is a mark of Christian maturity to discern the difference |
| between good and evil. It is also a greater mark of maturity, that |
| having discerned that difference, to be able to stand in the love of |
| God regarding it. God wants us to discern. But He tells us we |
| must not condemn. |