Who would you pick?

Who would you pick?

Respectable Sins:
JUDGMENTALISM
 What is judgmentalism?

The sin of judgmentalism is the most subtle of our respectable sins.

It is often practiced under the guise of being zealous for what is right or acceptable.

It is what happens when we elevate personal opinions, beliefs, and convictions (usually
concerning various issues) to the level of spiritual/biblical truth.

It may eventually result in eagerness to find fault with others while being slow to find fault
in ourselves.
POINT TO
PONDER
POINT TO
PONDER
POINT TO PONDER
Point to Ponder

• It is easy to become judgmental toward

anyone whose opinions and practices are
different from ours. Think of a time when
you’ve seen this happen. What consequences
occurred?
Judgmentalism in the early Church

• 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 14:3), while
another group ate “anything” (presumably meat) and thought
that they had superior knowledge because what they ate made
no difference to God if it was received with thanksgiving (1
Timothy 4:4).
 Being like Paul

• Paul did not try to change anyone’s convictions regarding what they ate or the
special days they observed. Instead, he said, ““Each one should be fully
convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5). Such a statement makes many of us
uncomfortable. We don’t like ambiguity in issues of Christian practice. It’s
difficult for us to accept that one person’s opinion can be different from ours and
both of us be accepted by God. But that is what Paul says in Romans 14. And if
we will take Paul seriously and hold our convictions with humility, it will help us
avoid the sin of judgmentalism.
Doctrinal Judgmentalism

Many of us know that doctrine is important; and because we believe that is true, we can easily
fall into the sin of judgmentalism.

For example, the doctrine of Christ’s substitutionary atonement for our sins and the
complementary doctrine of justification by faith in Christ alone are, to me, crucial doctrines.
These are the kind of doctrines where we should draw a line in the sand and say, “No
compromise. None whatsoever, period!”

But because we do believe so strongly in the importance of sound doctrine, we can easily
become hypercritical of those with whom we disagree. We should express our disagreements,
but we should do so in a way that does not degenerate into character assassination.
A Critical Spirit

Refers to the constant or continuous practice of judgmentalism, looking and finding fault with everyone and
everything and speaking about things in a disparaging manner

Sometimes a spouse, either the husband or wife, can be a continual faultfinder toward the other or toward
one or more of the children. The object of such continual criticism begins to think he or she can’t do
anything right. This can be hurtful and harmful.

It is often said that it takes seven compliments to undo the effects of one criticism. So let’s examine
ourselves; or better yet, let’s subject ourselves to the examination of others. Do we have a critical spirit?
Do we continually find fault with others, especially members of our own family or members of our own
church?
Leave the judging to God

• Let us stop passing judgment on one another. regardless of which position we

take.
• Let us stop trying to play God toward our fellow believers in Christ.
- God is the judge, not you. We take on God’s role when we judge others whose
preferences and practices are different from ours
- Perhaps this is what Jesus himself was teaching in this well known passage in
Matthew versus this is Matthew 7 :1-5 when he said do not judge or you too will
be judged. Or in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged and with
the measure you use it will be measured to you.
 Reflection:

1. What things do you tend to be judgemental about towards others?

2. Are they things which you consider to be crucial to the gospel or are
you willing to reconsider your position?
3. Do you act in love towards those with a different position?
4. Do you need to repent of your judgmentalism?
Reference

• Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate

by Jerry Bridges