"Don't Judge Me"

"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

-Jesus, in Matthew 7:1-2

So here's a general scenario:
John does, says, wears, or somehow conveys something that could be cause someone to stumble and sin.
Peter knows that John calls himself a Christian, and he lovingly takes John aside and simply asks a humble question about why John did that particular thing.
John responds, "why not??"
"Because it causes some people to stumble. And basically, could damage your Christian testimony."
"Whoa, hang on man. Remember the Bible says in Matthew 7:1-2 not to judge me!"

What does Peter do?
So he may say: "Listen John, the reason I bring this up is because I want what's best for you, and for anyone else it may affect." And he may  ask another loving question, such as, "Do you know what the rest of that passage says in Matthew 7?"

Well just in case you didn't memorize it, look it up, or google it already, ;) here's the rest of the passage i Matthew 7:

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

⁵ Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to [do what??...] cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

John 7:24
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

That's the difference.

Righteous judgement.

It's lack of righteous judgement and church discipline that results in people like Rob Bell, Mark Driscoll and many others, teaching false doctrine and leading people astray.

That's why I appreciate it when people like John Macarthur actually jump in and lovingly say something about people like Mark Driscoll's ministry being unedifying to the body.
Or Eric Ludy pointing out Rob Bell's "flexible truth" doctrine in Ludy's book, The Bravehearted Gospel.
Or Kevin DeYoung addressing Jeff Bethke's youtube video "Why I Hate Religion, but Love Jesus."

What each of these 3 examples did with the advice is up to them.
But the main lesson, is:

We need to be people who speak the truth in love.

I appreciate the anaology that Mr. Bill Gothard gives, that we need to be more like surgeons, not judges.
"Surgical procedures such as this should be motivated by a desire to bring healing to another, whereas the responsibility of a judge is to determine the guilt of another person and enforce the consequences of the law."

Recommendation: 
Great resource! http://iblp.org/iblp/discipleship/dailysuccess/enroll/

God bless you all this week!
Ambassador in bonds for Christ,
Landon