Aaron32
Well-known member
Judge Not
Judge not unrighteously, that ye be not judged; but judge righteous judgment (JST Matt 7:2)
And Jesus said unto his disciples, Beholdest thou the scribes, and the Pharisees, and the priests, and the Levites? They teach in their synagogues, but do not observe the law, nor the commandments; and all have gone out of the way, and are under sin (JST Matt 7:6)
While the JST may be accused of plagerism, the principle isn't wrong or unBiblical:
Romans 3
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (Romans 3:9-11)
If Paul is correct, that no one understands, how can we claim righteous judgment of others?
The Golden Rule
Jesus affirms that we are evil, and tells us the spirit of the law. Good fruit is the golden rule.
Matt 7:
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
So, let's sum up Jesus teachings regarding our behavior:
1) Don't judge. 2)Keep the golden rule.
Since this is the Mormonism, here's some perspective from the Book of Mormon:
16...I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged. (Moroni 7)
This affirms Peters words - speaking of the Gentiles:
Acts 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
People may not have the same understanding of God that you do, but if they fear God, and do good works, it's not God that's judging them. God only judges against our knowledge and the dictates of our conscience.
Romans 2:
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Spiritual Blindness
You may believe someone is spiritually blind. What does Jesus say to do?
Matt 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Jesus was perfectly comfortable to let the blind go, having perfect trust in His Father to heal their blindness, if it be His will.
You may believe someone is following a false Christ, or using His name in vain. How did Jesus respond?
Mark 9
38 ¶ And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me
40 For he that is not against us is on our part.
Now, does that mean Jesus said these people were "true" Christians? Nope.
Matt 7:
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
This leads us to an important point to what fruit we are bearing when we pronounce judgement:
John 10
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
We are either following Jesus, and doing what he says, or we're not.
Part 2: False prophets
Just because we can't judge others, we can choose who we follow. Jesus gives us the criteria:
Matt 7:
15 ¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
We may be tempted to impose our own morality and our own set of values as "good fruit". But that's not what Jesus is saying here.
Those who keep Jesus words, and abide in Him, bring forth good fruits. (John 15:3-4) Those who love God, and love others as themselves are keeping the Law and the prophets. (Matt 22:38-40)
Obeying God sometimes supercedes obedience to the literal meaning of The Law. For example, even though the Ten Commandments states "Thou shall not kill", Joshua was not a false prophet for ordering the death of Canaanites.
Joseph Smith & Polygamy
While I personally have issues with polygamy, Joseph Smith said he was commanded by God to practice it. It's a subjective/unverifiable claim. Yet, to be congruent with Biblical teachings - it's not up to us to judge. Polygamy came as a shock to the Saints. Prior to that, Joseph Smith was teaching to people to come to Christ. Therefore, maintaining a biblical standard, polygamy cannot be used as evidence of Joseph Smith being a false prophet.
True to Jesus word, the blind will fall into a ditch, and that's exactly the situation the decision was forced upon the Church in continuing polygamy or not, as described in the Manifesto. The Church purged themselves of the practice, and has moved forward. Therefore, if it was true doctrine or not, it's inconsequential to present day Mormons.
Judge not unrighteously, that ye be not judged; but judge righteous judgment (JST Matt 7:2)
And Jesus said unto his disciples, Beholdest thou the scribes, and the Pharisees, and the priests, and the Levites? They teach in their synagogues, but do not observe the law, nor the commandments; and all have gone out of the way, and are under sin (JST Matt 7:6)
While the JST may be accused of plagerism, the principle isn't wrong or unBiblical:
Romans 3
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (Romans 3:9-11)
If Paul is correct, that no one understands, how can we claim righteous judgment of others?
The Golden Rule
Jesus affirms that we are evil, and tells us the spirit of the law. Good fruit is the golden rule.
Matt 7:
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
So, let's sum up Jesus teachings regarding our behavior:
1) Don't judge. 2)Keep the golden rule.
Since this is the Mormonism, here's some perspective from the Book of Mormon:
16...I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged. (Moroni 7)
This affirms Peters words - speaking of the Gentiles:
Acts 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
People may not have the same understanding of God that you do, but if they fear God, and do good works, it's not God that's judging them. God only judges against our knowledge and the dictates of our conscience.
Romans 2:
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Spiritual Blindness
You may believe someone is spiritually blind. What does Jesus say to do?
Matt 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Jesus was perfectly comfortable to let the blind go, having perfect trust in His Father to heal their blindness, if it be His will.
You may believe someone is following a false Christ, or using His name in vain. How did Jesus respond?
Mark 9
38 ¶ And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me
40 For he that is not against us is on our part.
Now, does that mean Jesus said these people were "true" Christians? Nope.
Matt 7:
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
This leads us to an important point to what fruit we are bearing when we pronounce judgement:
John 10
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
We are either following Jesus, and doing what he says, or we're not.
Part 2: False prophets
Just because we can't judge others, we can choose who we follow. Jesus gives us the criteria:
Matt 7:
15 ¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
We may be tempted to impose our own morality and our own set of values as "good fruit". But that's not what Jesus is saying here.
Those who keep Jesus words, and abide in Him, bring forth good fruits. (John 15:3-4) Those who love God, and love others as themselves are keeping the Law and the prophets. (Matt 22:38-40)
Obeying God sometimes supercedes obedience to the literal meaning of The Law. For example, even though the Ten Commandments states "Thou shall not kill", Joshua was not a false prophet for ordering the death of Canaanites.
Joseph Smith & Polygamy
While I personally have issues with polygamy, Joseph Smith said he was commanded by God to practice it. It's a subjective/unverifiable claim. Yet, to be congruent with Biblical teachings - it's not up to us to judge. Polygamy came as a shock to the Saints. Prior to that, Joseph Smith was teaching to people to come to Christ. Therefore, maintaining a biblical standard, polygamy cannot be used as evidence of Joseph Smith being a false prophet.
True to Jesus word, the blind will fall into a ditch, and that's exactly the situation the decision was forced upon the Church in continuing polygamy or not, as described in the Manifesto. The Church purged themselves of the practice, and has moved forward. Therefore, if it was true doctrine or not, it's inconsequential to present day Mormons.
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