“Judge not . . .” is a well-known passage . . . even by not-yet-Christians. How many times have we heard not-yet-Christians, with an index finger wagging in the air and an “aha”, remind us? Though Matthew 7:1-5 is well-known, verse 6 is much less known:
“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.(Matthew 7:6 ESV)
The fact is, verses 1-6 form the complete idea. What happens when you take them together? Let’s put the two together in abbreviated form:
Wait now; if we’ve just determined that somebody is a dog or a pig, did we not just judge? And Jesus, of all people, compels us to withhold from these people. Does this seem contradictory?
[I can put silly stuff on my blog since only 5 people read it]
Let’s examine the “Judge not” idea first. If we look at this parallel saying in Luke 6:36-38, we can see that this “judge not” saying happens in the context of granting mercy. Without going into a long explanation here (go to my “Measuring by Mercy” post for more on this), I’ll suggest that this means something like “ don’t judge them unworthy of the same mercy that you rely upon.” So, on the one hand, we look at a person, no matter how harried the situation, and know that he needs mercy upon mercy . . . like me.
Now let’s take a look at the “dogs and pigs” idea. I think it’s as simple as this: “don’t grant scoundrels who defame The Gospel the courtesy of hearing truth that they then only defame. . . i.e., keep your mouth shut.”
I just wrote “as simple as . . . .” Is it ever simple to know what to say, how to say it, or if to say it? Not so much. This is the reason it’s not simple: Theses two saying represent two sides of an issue, two extremes, one juxtaposition. I view it like this:
Someplace in between the two extremes is the right way to respond to people and circumstances. This situation calls for mercy upon mercy. That situation calls for you to say nothing. Those situations call for a rebuke. Others call for a silent hug. Who knows? God knows. How do you know? ASK, SEEK, KNOCK. The Holy Spirit will tell you where the Narrow Way is right now, with this person, under these influences, and in this circumstance. Don’t try to figure it out yourself. The way is too narrow, variable, and circumstantial for you to find it without asking.
Loving does not look like the same thing in every case, not even with the same person the next time. It will turn out closer to one side of the juxtaposition or the other.
By what measure do you dispense mercy? Is it based on how worthy you judge the recipient tof be? How do you distinguish mercy from compassion or pity? The idea of being non-judgmental seems to be contradictory to aN exclusive faith, such as Judaism, Islaam, or Christianity.
ReplyDeleteBy an overflowing measure: give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38 ESV)
ReplyDeleteNobody is worthy: For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. (Romans 11:32) The Christian judgement is that everyone must rely on God's mercy for salvation rather then self-will or determination.
What mercy or love looks like varies as it takes all things into account. The way of love or the narrow way takes into account an impossible number of variables--only God can sort out all of the variables. I may best love a person by sternly telling them to stop sinning. Or, the way of love may take into account the issues of the persons effected the person that I have direct contact with. It is impossible for us to know. If we act according to the leading of the Spirit, we still may not understand why, but we may know that it was the way of love in that situation.
I realize that I forgot to respond to this question: "How do you distinguish mercy from compassion or pity?"
ReplyDeleteThis may nuances that can be debated, but I view mercy as "not receiving what we deserve" and compassion and pity as "a compulsion from within to improve dire circumstances of others."
So, are you saying that mercy is something that your God does, and we are responsible for compassion and pity?
ReplyDeleteGod has mercy on us. There's no system like "he's a pretty good guy, so he'll be saved but she's a very bad person so she can't be saved." All people are put in the exact same category: disobedient. All people are saved from whatever disobedience by God's mercy. That measure of mercy is procured by God himself and appropriated by choosing to have a relationship with him. God calls us to measure people in mercy too, recognizing that we rely on the same. I wrote on mercy here: http://feetbearingnews.blogspot.com/2012/07/measuring-by-mercy.html
ReplyDeleteI think that there are many compassionate people in the world who do not know God personally. There is, however, a kind of compassion that God puts in you as a component of the relationship; it moves you. I wrote some time ago on this compassion here: http://feetbearingnews.blogspot.com/2012/07/moved-by-compassion.html
Thank you for your comments! God's peace to you.
Mark in Maryland! i just figured it out. I thought I was talking to a stranger :) You need to journey form Maryland to Indiana and see me!
ReplyDelete