Or should I say, Bible verses taken out of context!
The verse that Charles and many other people typically refer to is found in Matthew 7:1, which reads: “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged.” Whenever I hear someone repeat this verse and then paint “conservative Christians” as doing what Christ just said not to, I typically just get my Bible and ask them to show me where Jesus said it. I haven’t had a person yet be able to open up the Bible and show me (until they read this blog). Often times what a skeptic or non-believer will do is take one verse from the Bible and run with it… often times ripping the verse out of context, both theologically and historically.
A good rule of thumb is this simple one: “the Bible interprets the Bible.” Charles Barkley doesn’t interpret the Bible, Papa Giorgio (me) doesn’t interpret the Bible, and my pastor doesn’t interpret the Bible. The Bible interprets the Bible. So what does the Bible say about Judging… lets see, and maybe the reader can see what these verses are saying and then we will weigh these against Matthew 7:1, but not just Matthew 7:1, we will read a bit further along to see what the context means. Okay, lets get started.
John 7:24 reads: “Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment.” Did you catch that… we are told to judge here, this command has to do with arbitrary condemnation, only God can “judge” in that sense. We are expected to discern and evaluate doctrine and practice, and govern our own actions accordingly.
Matthew 7:16, 18: “You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles…? A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit.” How do we tell who is producing bad and good fruit? Should we judge the actions and works of people to be able to contrast between what they are doing, acting out?
1 Timothy 5:20: “Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will also be afraid.” Unless one judges the actions of a person, how could they rebuke a person publicly? When Romans chapter one discusses the sinful nature of homosexual lifestyle, does Charles Barkley accept only Matthew 7:1 and reject this verse and Romans plain statement on homosexuality? If so, then you know he is merely using the Bible towards his own means, something else the Bible speaks against.
1 Corinthians 14:29: “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.” Again, Christians are even called to judge fellow Christians.
Ephesians 4:15: “But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head – Christ.” I tell women who are pro-choice – as lovingly as possible – that their choice truly isn’t freedom, but bondage to an immoral choice, death. I guess I am a fake Christian.
I can go on for another twenty verses easily. However, I think the point is made. The only thing fake is that Charles Barkley is beholden to a secular ideal of what “rights” are, not realizing that the Person who gives us our rights – God – expects us to make the best possible choices… especially when it involves the fruit of your loins.
Jusdge not according to the appearance
