Under the Ink
Don’t judge me.
The church is too judgmental.
Only God can judge.
I have said them and have had them said to me. And there have been times in which I have been wrong in both. And there have been times in which the wider meaning of judging has been ignored, hidden, or simply uncovered and acknowledged.
In the Newt Testament of the Bible, the Greek word we translate as judge is the word, ‘krino.’ As is the case with ancient languages, the definition and meaning has a wide and broad reach. There are three common ways the New Testament uses the word krino.
krino - to make a basic decision, pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong.
An example from the letter of Titus 3:12, As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided (krino) to winter there.
Most often credited to Paul, he writes to friend named Titus, and he makes the basic decision to winter in Nicopolis.
In this first definition, obviously we all make judgments.
Krino (2) - to be summoned to trial that one's case may be examined and judgment passed upon it, of those who act the part of judges or arbiters in matters of common life, or pass judgment on the deeds and words of others.
An example of this kind judging, John 18:29-31, So Pilate came out to them and asked, “What charges are you bringing against this man?” “ If he were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said, “Take him yourselves and judge (krino) him by your own law.”
So this judging has to do with law and a court system, got it.
Krino (3) - to determine someone’s essence.
One word, three distinct meanings.
And now a couple texts that most often get tossed around, Matthew 7:1-2, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
And not far behind, 1 Corinthians 4:5, Therefore judge (krino) nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
And an example of when I needed to grasp the difference. I was sitting on the other side of a thick plexiglass wall, across from a man I had gotten to know over the previous few months, and who three days earlier had committed a brutal double homicide. He was still detoxing from an epic crack binge, sobbing uncontrollably, and he kept asking over and over and over, “Pastor Wally, am I evil?”
I looked him in the eye and said, “What you did was inarguably evil, and you will be sentenced to die in a prison cell, I have no doubt. But the very essence of who you are was created by Grace and was designed with Love. I am so sorry you have chosen to ignore, disregard, or walk away from that which is deepest within you. I love you and even now I pray God’s mercy on you.”
I have no place in judging someone’s essence, but basic decisions will be made, by everyone, and a world absent of lawful decisions and judgments is utter chaos.
In this season of Lent, may we discern which is ours to do, and that which is the work of the Divine alone.
