It is well that we understand judgment as the word ought to be used in interpreting Scripture, extended to our own experiences. The primary meaning for this Page today relates to evaluation. The point made by the Apostle Paul, in the passage above, is that if we are strict enough with ourselves, so to evaluate our lives and follow proper procedures for application of the faithful parts of those evaluations, we are freed, under God, from the judgment of others, and finally of negative evaluation from God. We need to be reminded that for many the judgment of God will be: Well done thou good and faithful servant. (Matthew 25:21-23) A statement of approval is a judgment just as a statement of disapproval is a judgment. We tend to use judgment with a feeling of some disapproval. In those evaluations of approval by God there may be a judgment of disapproval by humanity. That temporal judgment does not stand, unless the righteous judge concurs and puts his imprimatur to the conclusions. Christians mean to live in hope for approval from the Creator. Of the nature of holiness giving him ultimate authority as judge of right and wrong, God must uphold the values of his Kingdom. There will be perfect judgment (evaluation). That judgment is evaluation with consequences which the Christian holds to be affirmative in Christian faith.
Acknowledging the stern judgment of God on wrong (sin), we seek a way to avoid that anger and rejection in ourselves. A major way to influence that judgment is to encounter the judgment (evaluation) on my own – in my person that may invite God’s assistance. I make value judgments every day on my own, why not favoring God – related to his meaning to me? Because of many factors, evaluation is hard to accomplish in humanity’s conflicted standards, weak defenses, and other limitations. Barriers can be reduced, even removed, by self-achieved evaluation through mastery of Scripture, regular prayer habit, perhaps counsel from the words and models of others. All must be approached with an attitude of humility, a sincere desire to be instructed, and a realistic application of that which is learned. Success is often sealed with a carefully formed inner witness of new blessing in life. Our witness is ultimately effective in conclusions, and in the personal steps that gained those conclusions. Not that we are secretive about the details, but the details are different for each person, perhaps interpreted in a different life context. The details may be used in a private sharing of experience with another person seeking solutions for a similar problem. Wisdom about human nature ought to be high priority in the journey of ourselves and others. Pilgrim’s Progress is not the same for everyone although many factors are similar. On a checkerboard, I may move right and my partner would move left. One move may spell victory in the match and the other spell defeat. It is the use of the checker, so it is the management of each player that makes the difference. This is illustrated in many persons noted in Judas, or in Simon (the former sorcerer), and others. (Acts 8:10-24; 13:10; 4:19-20) One procedure is embraced by this person and refused by another. Even Apostles differed, working separately.
In the recital of the service of Communion in the church, the Apostle Paul instructed communicants to examine themselves. (1 Corinthians 11:28) The worshiper is to halt, to self-evaluate for correction, and by examination and repair so to qualify to proceed. This is self-judgment (evaluation), to cultivate the more mature Christian, and determine to make correction or adjustment. Everyone is in an ultimate courtroom. God is judge, and from him the defense will make report to determine innocence and guilt. We might have constructed a different process, but we are not God. Human wisdom is to admit our flawed nature, proceed to God for acceptable repairs, and follow them. This is the message of Scripture. There is, I believe, a secret here for mature persons. The singling out of the communion as context implies that one does not go through daily life in a spirit of self-evaluation. Find principles and live by them. Have a system. One of the most useful is to adopt a daily Scripture verse that speaks to the quality of Christian life. Another implication is that the growing Christian may not be taken by a deep feeling of conviction that solemnizes the process too severely. It is accomplished in a spirit of problem identity and solution. It may be done with a friend, but it may be practiced alone – with God. Each finds what works. The cultivation of Christian life is a process that balances physical and spiritual factors to fulfillment. It moves along a lengthy pathway upward and with growth, advancing from spiritual infancy to maturity. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020