If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone twist a verse in Scripture, I might be able to pay what's left of my mortgage! But seriously, people not familiar with the full context of a verse will take a segment and extrapolate their interpretation then use it like a silver bullet to shame and disgrace the unwitting target.
Throughout my time as a Christian, I’ve seen the Bible packed like a pistol, then suddenly - READY, AIM, SHOOT! It’s incredibly alarming when this happens especially in light of one’s understanding of a particular verse. Said verse can be used incorrectly by Christians and unbelievers alike.
Sadly, we can see it in ways of pure manipulation to suit that moment in time (and nothing more). It’s a quick hit of HUMBLE PIE if done deceptively or ignorantly enough. The unwitting target has a choice to take on the challenge or walk away licking the wounds of defeat.
When a Christian is well-versed in true, Biblical understanding, these types of confrontations seem more like the schooling of an adolescent than going toe-to-toe with a Ph.D. in theological studies. The ill-equipped, protester comes ready to utilize a portion of the full Biblical thought with the hope of demolishing the opponent’s beliefs or actions. However, when the Christian comes “armed to the teeth,” he/she can, with great care, exegete (critical explanation or interpretation of a text) and incorporate Biblical instruction straight from God’s own words!
God says this about the Bible:
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16. So, in application, we can confidently use His Word to correct the misuse of a verse. And, also by pulling in the rest of the Scripture to help explain how it’s intended to be used, we can put to bed the misinterpretation as well as the weapon that has just been deployed.
Out of the 31,102 verses within the Old and New Testament, without fail, there’s one that gets pulled and flung slovenly at the unsuspecting Christian the most.
Here’s how it typically goes down:
“You Christians sure know how to judge! Don’t you know Jesus said ‘Judge not lest you be judged?’”
A small portion of this verse, misunderstood, can be effectively aimed at anyone and at any time to disarm a perceived situation of supreme judgment. It’s the GO-TO verse, especially in today’s heated climate of culture wars versus the Christian. Also, it’s a great tool when a person wants to exist with massive platitudes of virtue as truly, they’re not capable (whatsoever) of judging others - right? They’ll say something along the lines of, “I never judge!” So, in essence, they’ve just elevated themselves above anyone who has ever judged.
I’ve had the same snippet of the full verse twisted and shouted at me so many times, I’ve lost count! And, it’s always, always, always, taken out of context. There hasn’t been one single time - ever - that someone used this verse the way it was intended by our LORD, Jesus Christ - to believers.
In truth, this verse is one of the most eloquently stated instructions for self-examination about the detriment of the Christian who lives in hypocrisy.
This is what Jesus said in full context:
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”
It’s a wonderful day when a believer can properly school anyone to stop the twisting and shouting of a verse and bring a dose of reality to the full context of Jesus’ words about judgment and hypocrisy in the Christian life. Let's put to bed the notion that no one judges. Let's understand how to use this most misunderstood verse to help those who judge incorrectly and see the errors of their ways in LOVE through Jesus!
:
댓글