Commonly Misused Bible Verses: Matthew 7:1

Posted on by July 22, 2011
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Both Christians and unbelievers are guilty of misusing Bible verses by ripping them from their original context.

This is the third post in the “Commonly Misused Bible Verses” series. If you haven’t read the other articles you may be interested to see my comments on 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Jeremiah 29:11. These two verses are often cited by Christians as though they were promises made to them by God, but that is not what the context shows. This post will focus on a verse that is routinely ripped out of its context by unbelievers.

 

Commonly Misused Bible Verse #3: Matthew 7:1

John 3:16 used to be the most famous Bible verse, but it may be accurate to say that another verse has now taken its place. During His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated the following words:

“Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1, NKJV)

This verse seems to be used whenever someone objects to a (possibly) well-intentioned Christian who points out that a particular behavior or practice is sinful. Unbelievers and even professing Christians are quick to say that Jesus told us we aren’t supposed to judge so we’d better just keep our opinions to ourselves. But is that really what Jesus was teaching?

Let’s take a look at the context.

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1–5, NKJV)

Notice that the point of Jesus’ teaching here is that we are not to be self-righteous or hypocritical in our judgment. For example, if I was an alcoholic, then I have no business telling someone how sinful they are for being an alcoholic. That’s hypocritical. However, if I do not have a “plank” in my own eye, then I can see clearly to remove the speck from my brother’s eye. In other words, if I am living a godly life, then I can be in a position where I can properly point out sin in another person’s life. This should be done with gentleness and respect, rather than self-righteous judgmentalism.

There are several problems with someone citing this verse as “proof” that a Christian should never try to point out sin in someone’s life. First, later in the same chapter Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves…by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:15, 20, NKJV). How can you possibly know who is a false prophet unless you make judgments about their “fruits” (teaching, actions, etc.)? Obviously, we must make judgments in these cases.

Second, Jesus and the apostles demonstrated on numerous occasions that we need to make judgments of sinful behavior. Jesus showed mercy to the woman caught in adultery, but then He said to her “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11). When Simon the sorcerer thought he could buy God’s gift of the Holy Spirit with money, Peter said, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God” (Acts 8:20–21, NKJV). Paul publicly rebuked Peter for leading people astray by slipping back into a form of legalism (Galatians 2:11–21). So when professing Christians cite Matthew 7:1 out of context, they reveal their ignorance of the examples set by our Lord and His apostles.

Third, notice the absolute hypocrisy of the person who tells you not to judge. What did they just do when they told you not to judge? They judged you. They made a judgment that what you were doing was wrong, and then they went ahead and hypocritically told you that you shouldn’t ever tell people that they are wrong.

The Bible is very clear that we need to make judgments. We need to know God’s Word and be guided by the Holy Spirit so we will know what is wrong and right, and we need to point out sin in a person’s life and plead with them to repent of their sin and trust in Christ. At the same time, we must not be hypocritical in our judgment. We need to constantly examine our own lives and then “go and sin no more.”

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Michelle Bachmann, Ex-gay Therapy, and Another Assault on Scripture

Posted on by July 15, 2011
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Michele Bachmann and her husband have come under fire for offering counsel to help homosexuals become straight. Image is from http://bachmann.house.gov

Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann (R – Minnesota) has recently come under fire because of some practices at two Christian counseling centers operated by her husband Marcus Bachmann (PhD, Clinical Psychology). Apparently Dr. Bachmann, or at least one or more of his employees, have counseled people struggling to leave homosexuality by telling them to turn to God.

I must admit that I don’t trust politicians much—even those who are closer to my own views. It’s difficult to trust the folks in Washington because we’ve become so accustomed to the corruption, empty promises, and lies. Since we live in a sound byte culture it is almost impossible to know when you are even getting an accurate depiction of someone because little-to-no context is provided. I am theologically and politically conservative so I may be fairly close to Michele Bachmann politically (although I don’t know enough about her to know for sure), but I still have trouble trusting her.

So let’s take a look at this story that has been all over the news. A homosexual named John Becker with a couple of hidden cameras visited one of Dr. Bachmann’s clinics and pretended to be seeking their help to leave homosexuality. Over the course of several sessions, Becker was told that God had created him for heterosexuality and he was given some advice to help him leave homosexuality, such as reading the Bible, praying, and finding a heterosexual man who could serve as an AA-type mentor. He was also referred to a Christian group that specializes in helping the sexually and relationally broken.

When this news broke, the talking heads launched their assaults at Dr. and Mrs. Bachmann decrying the notion that someone could become an “ex-gay.” MSNBC and many other organizations from the liberal side of things mocked the therapy as “pray away the gay.” Others have claimed that it is impossible to change someone’s sexual orientation because they are allegedly born that way.

My primary concern over this issue is theological in nature, but I do have a few comments to make before getting to that.

First, the notion that someone cannot become an ex-gay is contradicted by the thousands of ex-homosexuals in this country. There are numerous ministries devoted to helping people leave homosexuality and some of them have been started by ex-gays. This doesn’t mean that a person who leaves homosexuality won’t struggle with their decision or be tempted to go back to their former ways. But it is clear that a homosexual can make the decision to become straight.

Second, there is no evidence for the so-called “gay gene.” Many researchers have tried to find such a genetic trait but to no avail. I have a good friend who is married with children. He has an identical twin brother who is a homosexual. These two men have identical DNA yet one is heterosexual and the other is homosexual. I don’t deny that some people may be more predisposed to certain behaviors (e.g., alcoholism, obesity, homosexuality, etc.), but ultimately the person must decide whether he is going to give into their temptations. An alcoholic did not have to become an alcoholic, even if they were predisposed to it and grew up in an alcoholic family.

Third, John Becker came to Dr. Bachmann’s clinic asking for help to leave homosexuality. The same is true for anyone else coming to his clinics seeking help in this area. Why is it so wrong for a counselor to assist someone who comes to them for help? It seems that the main reason some people are so offended by this case is that homosexuality was being treated as something abnormal and that calling upon Jesus Christ was given as the solution. If we are supposed to be so tolerant of everyone’s beliefs, then why are those complaining about the Bachmanns so intolerant of the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality?

There are several other points that could be made about this subject, but I want to turn my attention to the attack on Scripture here. All of those people out there, including some professing Christians, who are claiming that a person cannot become an ex-gay are saying that the Bible is wrong. Let’s take a close look at what Paul said to the Corinthians.

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9–11, NKJV)

Notice that after listing all of those sinful behaviors Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit stated, “and such were some of you.” So some of the Christians in Corinth were former idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, etc. What happened to them? They were washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. I don’t know if every bit of counsel provided in Dr. Bachmann’s clinics was biblically sound, but I do know if you deny that a person can become an ex-gay, then you are rejecting the teaching of God’s Word.

The Bible is very clear that homosexual behavior is a sin (see also Leviticus 18, Romans 1, 1 Timothy 1, and an article I wrote earlier this year on this subject). However, the temptation to sin is not the same as sin. James 1:14–15 states, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” A person may be predisposed to homosexuality and be tempted to engage in homosexual behavior. But the predisposition and temptation are not sinful. It becomes sinful when the person gives into those desires either mentally or physically.

Finally, let me clarify that some people in the church have done a poor job of handling this topic. They may have boldly and accurately proclaimed that homosexuality is a sin, but have they been willing to help a young person who may be struggling with these tendencies? Have they singled out homosexuality as a sin, but ignored the other sins that show up in those lists like adultery, idolatry, theft, and drunkenness?

We are all born with a sinful nature and are predisposed to sin. Yet God commands us not to sin. When I sin, I have no right to blame someone else for my sinful behavior. I need to take responsibility for my own actions. I am thankful that I serve a merciful, gracious, and loving God, who was willing to take my place on the Cross and die for my sins. The Bible tells us that God is patiently waiting before returning to judge this world and all of those who have rejected His offer of salvation. He is waiting so that more people will turn from their sins and trust in Him (2 Peter 3:9).

If you are a believer, are you speaking the truth boldly and lovingly? Are you willing to help those who struggle with sin or are you more content to condemn them? Or have you given into societal pressures and lies on this issue and compromised biblical truth? If you are an unbeliever, are you willing to forsake your sin and call out to Jesus Christ, the only one who can save you?