Judgment and Discernment in Scripture

Silhouette praying with the quote about judgment and speech.There was a discussion here last week about judgment and Christians not having the right to it ever. I believe we’re commanded to do it, provided we do it the right way.

Matthew 7:1 says, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” Many people read that as if Jesus were forbidding all judgment, as though any evaluation of right and wrong would cause God to judge them harshly for doing it.

But that is not what Jesus is teaching.

Jesus is not saying never judge. He is speaking to not practice condemning, self‑righteous judgment. Condemning judgment seeks to take God’s role. Discerning judgment brings clarity because it evaluates truthfully and humbly.

That is why Jesus also says in John 7:24, “Judge with righteous judgment.”

He forbids the wrong kind of judgment, which is condemnation, and commands the right type, which is discernment.

A clear example is His teaching about false prophets. We are told to judge them by their fruits. That is discernment. What we cannot do is condemn them to Hell. That belongs to God alone.

Paul teaches the same truth. In 1 Corinthians 2:15, he writes, “He who is spiritual judges all things.” Paul is not speaking of condemning anyone. He is describing the Spirit‑led ability to evaluate teachings, behaviors, and situations with wisdom and clarity.

Together, Jesus and Paul show the same truth. Jesus commands it. Paul confirms it. God speaks through both.

Minneapolis “Martyr”


A fiery devil proclaims 'The real martyrs are upstairs' to a crowd below.There’s a statement, not an actual quote attributable to anyone, that goes, “They need martyrs to keep the socialist brainwashing alive, otherwise they’d have no native supporters fighting against their own best interests.”

In other words, socialism/communism is so contrary to people’s material/economic self-interest that few would accept it if approached rationally. The “brainwashing” part means supporters are conditioned through propaganda, education, media, or activism to ignore reality, and it creates victims. You need martyrs, the people who suffer death, jail, hardship as though they were on some kind of holy crusade. It’s an emotional appeal to keep the outrage going. The martyr takes on the role of hero, and there’s a reward, much like the 72 virgins for a suicide bomber.

The problem is that a fresh supply of martyrs is needed. If you run out, the emotional appeal stalls, recruitment slows or stops, and the movement collapses.

The reward is that the name will be remembered, but that’s as empty as the 72 virgins. There could be a GoFundMe-type payoff for the martyr’s survivors. But as more video came out, there’s been a pause or stop today in donations. It doesn’t seem worth it. A week from now, how many will remember the “martyr’s” name in Minneapolis?

Not to worry, another brainwashed martyr will come forward, and then another; then they will eventually stop.

A Short Reflection on Genesis 1:1 and 1:31

Earth seen from space with a sunrise and a biblical quote from Genesis 1:1.Genesis makes two crucial declarations:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
God saw every thing he had made, and behold it was very good.

It is clear to me that we are only here because of God, and this truth is found in the two verses selected. Since I view God as the Creator of everything, including time, it doesn’t matter to me whether the “day” of creation is understood as a literal 24 hours or as an age, era, period, or epoch. We know God’s ways are different from our ways, so I’m choosing not to focus on that debate.

What matters is that our existence is intentional, purposeful, and brought forth by a Creator who calls His work “very good.” Again, we are only here because of God.

A celestial scene with a quote from Genesis 1:31 about God's creation.

The Messiah in the Manger


A night sky with a bright cross and a Bible verse from Romans 6:23.We just went through Christmas, and if you recall the Biblical account in Luke, the birth of Jesus is a message of salvation.

An angel proclaimed, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” In the Book of John, we know that “if we believe in Him, we will have eternal life.” That is what Christmas is all about: salvation.

It is the message of the core gospel, received by faith, bringing eternal life and life‑changing power for living with happiness and purpose today.

“Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”?


Festive Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays greeting with snowy background.The word “holidays comes from two Old English words meaning “holy and “days that were secularized over time.

So, if someone says, “Happy Holidays, a proper response should be, “And Happy Holy Days to you too, and have a very Merry Christmas!”

Putting “Old English aside, in today’s Modern English, to which all of us are accustomed, “Happy Holidays is, in my opinion, a woke way to avoid mentioning “Christmas. That being said, in these modern days, consider me old-fashioned.
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MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU!