“Who am I to judge?” -Pope Francis

For many in our times that only means, who am I to judge others?  However, it must also mean, who am I to judge God?  If God has already spoken and judged something plainly, then who are we to say God is wrong?  Who am I to judge what the Judge has already judged?  We have become defenders of the creature rather than worshipers of the Creator.

God knows and has judged what is good and right for people and the planet, if you chose in your heart to go against what God has deemed best then you have simply believed the original Lie, that you shall be god and you shall judge what is good and evil. This is not about anybody’s personal rights but God’s! God gives you free will and if you use it to choose your “rights” over his rights then don’t whine and complain about the hurt and pain of choosing your will over his rights…see the wisdom of Proverbs 1:20-33 (don’t skip it, read it!)

Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
    in the markets she raises her voice;
²¹ at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
    at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
²² “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
    and fools hate knowledge?
²³ If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
    I will make my words known to you.
²⁴ Because I have called and you refused to listen,
    have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
²⁵ because you have ignored all my counsel
    and would have none of my reproof,

²⁶ I also will laugh at your calamity;
    I will mock when terror strikes you,
²⁷ when terror strikes you like a storm
    and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
    when distress and anguish come upon you.
²⁸ Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
    they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
²⁹ Because they hated knowledge
    and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
³⁰ would have none of my counsel
    and despised all my reproof,
³¹ therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
    and have their fill of their own devices.
³² For the simple are killed by their turning away,
    and the complacency of fools destroys them;
³³ but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
    and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

When Jesus said “judge not” he meant “do not condemn,” not “do not discern.” Our culture and much of the church has lost the distinction.

I don’t tell my children “no’ or correct or discipline them because I don’t love them, but because I actually do love them and judge their behavior and action against things that I know will hurt and harm them and or others. God is a great Father and loves his people and all of humanity enough to judge them by telling them No and by correcting and disciplining them.

A good portion of the church is in love with love, not in love with Jesus.

Who am I to judge the I AM?