Do Not Judge?

'Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2

     Many people use these verses to claim that we don't have a right to tell people that what they are doing is wrong.  They want to claim that right and wrong are purely subjective.  They need to understand these verses in context with the next three.

'Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:3-5

     Jesus is not saying we can't have object values of right and wrong. He is condemning the ignoring of your own sin, and the use of judgmental attitudes designed to lift yourself up by beating down someone else.  I love the phrase "the only level ground is at the foot of the cross".  There we can realize that on our own goodness, we are truly lost.  Yet a loving God has done all the work necessary to save us, if we humbly bow and admit our need for Him.
     Scripture is also to be read in the greater context of the whole book.  Matthew 7:1-5 shows that our true attitude when we see sin in someone's life should first lead us prayerfully inward, asking God to show us our own heart.  The following verse from Galatians shows us how we are to respond to the individual in sin.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2
     First, we see the person as trapped by sin.  Our heart's attitude should be to help them by freeing them from that trap.
     Then, it is to be done gently.  If we found a wounded animal caught in a trap, we would not simply try to yank it's leg out.  We would first try to pull back the jaws of the trap, and then carefully remove the leg. We would apply disinfectant and ointment.  Then we would try to attach a splint if there was a broken bone.  All this is done with a desire to heal, not torture.
     Like the hurt and confused animal, some will resist our help.  And like this case, our help offered may be painful for them. 
     The most important thing to remember here is that only God can actually heal them. Sometimes, all we can do is love them and wait for God to open a way for them to be receptive to us.  When God does, we need to be willing for Him to use us, even if it is inconvenient or messy.  Life is messy and we were certainly a mess when God found us.
     Above all, love them with God's love.  His love will always compel us to carry another's burden.  Carry it with them, and carry it to God.