At one point in ch.17 of Respectable Sins, Jerry Bridges defines judgmentalism quite simply as playing God.
This is an excellent definition. When we so elevate our opinions or preferences above the word of God, and pass judgment on others based on rules we have established, we are no longer allowing God's word to be supreme. "We are arrogating to ourselves a role God has reserved for himself" (p.144).
In Christian circles, as Bridges points out, this comes out frequently in areas such as...
- Worship music preference: hymns or contemporary?
- Church dress code: coat & tie or polo?
- Views concerning alcohol: abstinence or temperance?
- Doctrine: hypercritical, hypertolerant, or "just right"?
Because the Bible allows for different views, or different emphases, concerning these and other issues, it is sinful to judge others based on their choices.
Example #1: It is sinful to judge another for preferring hymns over newer music.
Example #2: It is sinful to judge another for preferring newer music over hymns.
How can both be true? Because in this area God has not mandated a preference. He has plenty to say about attitude, however, and that's where we tend to blow it when we begin to judge others. But worse - we play God. We decide that we can judge their hearts when only God can do this. We do this when we say, "If they loved the Lord they would...well, ultimately, they'd be like me!"
God has indeed spoken, however. This entire book - Respectable Sins - is premised on the idea that there is such a thing as sin, after all! Yet even when we are correct on an issue, we can be judgmental, says Bridges. We can "demonize" the one with the aberrant view. Their view may be unbiblical, in some cases heretical, but we can still play God in a subtle way - by passing a judgment on the person above and beyond what we really know about them.
This is why this simple definition works so well. Whether in areas of preference, or areas where God has clearly spoken, there is a tendency to elevate ourselves above our proper place. To assume more authority and knowledge and certainty than we really have, as we presume to know the hearts and motives of others.
Oh boy. There's not much chance of avoiding the sin of judgmentalism, is there?
All the more reason to remain humble...
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3 comments:
Bridges explicitly acknowledges that many modern songs (and I would add even many older hymns) are not edifying or appropriate for worship.
He says "It's true that a lot of contemporary music is shallow and human-centered. But there is much that is as God-honoring and worshipful as our traditional hymns. So let's avoid being judgmental."
I think Bridges would freely admit that we need to be discerning with what songs and hymns we sing in the context of worship, but he is warning against judgmentalism in this case as almost a throwing the baby out with the bath water.
Brent, if I understand you correctly, I would say this:
I wanted to avoid the implication that making a judgment is improper. No, we are to make judgments. So with music for example, it is quite proper to judge music -- words, melody, focus, etc.
But I think that much thinking about music is far less reflective. I think that often judgments are made -- too quickly, with much too great certainty -- when people don't really have a full understanding of the music or how it operates. Worse, motives are judged: "They don't love the Lord, it's all just a tradition to them; they don't fear God, they just want to groove to the beat," etc.
Contemporary worship folks often don't understand the appeal of hymns, which to them seem very impersonal.
Lovers of rich hymns often don't understand the nature of contemporary songs, and how they function differently than hymns. (This would take a while to explain and nuance, so I'm leaving it at that for the moment.)
Since I'm a PCA minister, I'm glad that I fall somewhere inbetween. I think that my experiences have led me to see both kinds of music function very well as means of worship. I have also seen plenty of bad examples of both. And, to add to the mix, I've done my share of judging music poorly -- and I still have a lot to learn.
So, I would say that what we most definitely want to avoid is quickly judging the spirituality of others based on something we think we understand but perhaps do not. One of those things is the appeal of certain kinds of worship music.
I'd be interested in further thoughts on this.
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