The Moralist

In the eyes of Scripture a moralist is a person who lives a moral and clean life, but he judges others because they do not live as he thinks they should. He is moral, upright, just, good, decent and honorable. The moralist has strong values, standards, and principles. He is well disciplined and able to control his life. He lives just as everyone thinks he should. He knows right from wrong and he lives it. He knows how to behave and he does it. In the eyes of society he is just what a person should be. He is good neighbor, an excellent worker and provider, and an ideal citizen.

The moralist judges others. The word “judge” (krino) means to criticize, to find fault, to condemn. This is the terrible flaw of the moralist. Any person becomes a moralist when he sets himself up as a judge of others. Any time we judge another person, we are declaring that we…

-           Are living by some rule that another person is not living by.

-           Are more moral than someone else.

-           Are better than someone else. Are superior to someone else.

-           Are more acceptable to God than someone else.

Judging others says, “I am right, and he is not; I succeed, but he fails.” Therefore…

-           “Look at me, but ignore him.” “Draw near to me, but shun him.”

-           “Approve me, but condemn him.”  “Be my friend, but withdraw from him”    

      

Very simply, judging others raises self and lowers others, exalts self and debases others; and in the eyes of God this is wrong. It is sin. It is being full of self-righteousness, pride, and arrogance. It sets up as a moralist, and it makes a person judgmental and critical.

Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

Romans 14:4 “who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”

Romans 14:13 “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.”

James 4:12 “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?”