admin, Author at Shiloh Baptist Church

Don’t Judge Me!

Posted on Aug 23, 2019 in Quarterly Journal | 3140

Every so often a new expression is borne out of our culture; a catchy phrase that almost everyone adopts and uses. Some popular ones are, “How U Doin’?” from Wendy Williams (Radio/Talk Show Host); “Bye Felicia”, (Nene Leakes) is another one. Other’s escape me now, but when you can hear them, you know exactly what they mean. Because when spoken they define themselves. Lately, I’m hearing “Don’t Judge Me!” a lot. When spoken, it is an emphatic reprimand – meant to establish one’s right to do whatever they deem necessary for them – even if you don’t agree. While “How U Doin”, has become part of my repertoire depending on who I’m talking to (mostly my daughter), I have not yet used, “Don’t Judge Me!” I guess, because when used, it’s always in the context of justification for questionable choices; and then implication is while it may not be right for me, the choice is subject to the discretion of the other. And truthfully, in every case that I’ve heard it used, it is the opposite of what God’s Righteousness is.

The word “Righteousness” is used hundreds of times in the Bible. The Bible teaches that God loves righteousness, and that God is righteousness. It teaches that one day God is going to judge the world in righteousness.

According to Psalm 23, God leads us in the paths of righteousness. While in our simple language, we are emphatic that we don’t want to be judged, simply stated, righteousness means being right with God. And while we may not want to be judged, God has a standard.

According to Romans 1:17, the good news is that God made us right with Himself through Jesus’ death as payment for our sins. It is because of Jesus’ death, that we can have a right relationship with God. But righteousness is also a life-style. It means living right according to God’s standard. Being right with God is the best way to live, and it’s the only way to Heaven. We spend our lifetime acquiring things, or racking up accomplishments, but life without Christ, is an empty life. You’re not really living until you’re right with Go, and that means in relationship and fellowship with Him, and making Godly choices. “Don’t judge me!” may just be an expression, but the next time you caution someone not to judge you, just remember that if Christ chose you, He declared you righteous, and His standard will be the judge.

“God’s Way of Putting People Right Shows Up in Acts of Faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: ‘The Person in Right Standing Before God by Trusting Him Really Lives.’” – Romans 1:17 MSG

Submitted by Deaconess Irene Gardon