[English Sermon 영어 설교]
Sunday, January 19, 2025 - Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn
Do Not Judge Your Brother (Romans 14:1-12)
2025. 1. 19. 주일예배 설교- 로마서 강해 32
본문: 로마서 14:1-12
제목: 형제를 비판하지 말라
설교자: 손진국 목사
In today’s passage, the apostle Paul emphasizes to the believers in the Roman church not to criticize one another. In today’s passage, the command not to criticize appears four times: in verses 1 (“do not quarrel over disputable matters”), 3 (“do not treat with contempt”), 4 (“Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?”), and 10 (“Why do you judge your brother or sister?”).
Why does Paul stress so strongly the importance of refraining from criticism? It is because criticism significantly and negatively impacts our life of faith. Through today’s passage, let us reflect on what it means not to criticize our brothers and sisters in Christ.
1. Fight Against Sin
Has anyone among us never criticized others in their life? Likely no one. Why is that? Criticism is rooted in our sinful nature. After sin entered humanity, the immediate consequence was fear, and to escape that fear, people began blaming and criticizing others.
[Genesis 3:12] "The man said, ‘The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’” Adam, fearing the consequences of his sin of disobeying God, shifts the blame to God and the woman, Eve.
Since Adam, every person except Jesus has been born a sinner. Is there anyone in this world who is not a sinner? No. We, however, have received forgiveness through Jesus and are justified. But this does not mean we no longer have a sinful nature.
Through faith, we are proclaimed new creations in Christ.
[2 Corinthians 5:17] "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
We are new creations. Yet, while living in this world, we must remember that God’s kingdom is "already, but not yet." It has come but has not fully arrived. Our status has changed—no longer instruments of wickedness or children of the devil but instruments of righteousness and children of God.
Despite this, our old nature, our sinful tendencies, still remain. What must we do? We must fight against the sin within us and put to death our old self.
[Hebrews 12:4] "In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood."
Similarly, we must fight against the tendency to criticize, treating it as part of our struggle against sin. Sin naturally leads us to act in sinful ways unless we make a conscious and determined effort to resist. Without such resistance, criticism will arise, first in thought and then in words and actions.
Jesus instructs us to cut off such behavior. Otherwise, sin will return to us like a boomerang.
[Luke 6:37] "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
Before criticizing others, examine yourself. Sin breeds more sin.
Example: In America, a baker noticed that the butter he bought from a local farm seemed to weigh less over time. When he measured it, his suspicion was confirmed, and he accused the farmer of cheating him. During the trial, the farmer revealed that he did not use a scale. He simply used a loaf of bread weighing one pound to measure the butter he sold. When asked where he got the bread, he replied, "I buy it from the baker."
The reduction in the butter’s weight was due to the baker reducing the weight of his bread.
Let us examine whether we might be the cause of problems at church, home, or elsewhere. Do we blame others for the faults we ourselves commit? Remember that criticism demonstrates our own sinful nature. May we overcome criticism and sin through self-reflection and victory in our spiritual battles.
[Application] Am I fighting against sin to the point of shedding blood, or am I allowing it to persist? What sin or issue in my life do I need to address right now?
2. Respond with Positive Faith
Have you ever heard this saying? Constructive criticism makes society better. I once read an article titled, "Ask Questions and Criticize—‘Smart Rebels’ Help Society Progress." It emphasized the need to distinguish between criticism and condemnation. According to the dictionary, "condemnation" refers to pointing out and negatively speaking about someone's faults or flaws, while "criticism" involves judging the correctness or mistakes of a phenomenon or thing and pointing out what’s wrong. Therefore, the argument is that we should avoid condemnation but engage in criticism. That is a sociological approach, and it's true that societies can develop through such constructive criticism.
However, today’s scripture is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Rome, instructing believers not to criticize their brothers and sisters within the community of faith. He is asking us to view the issue of criticism not from a worldly perspective but from a faith-centered perspective.
The criticism mentioned in today’s passage is not condemnation but rather the act of pointing out right and wrong and shedding light on mistakes. The word used here for "criticize" is the Greek word krino, which means to judge or pass judgment.
Ultimately, even when criticism seems to have a good intention, it often ends in judgment and a declaration of guilt towards the other person. Criticizing someone effectively says, "You are guilty." And after such a declaration, what follows? The person must bear the consequences of guilt. What are those consequences? [Romans 6:23] “For the wages of sin is death...” This means the individual cannot be saved, cannot gain eternal life, and instead faces eternal separation from God.
That is why, when people receive criticism—whether constructive or not, even when intended for growth—it can rob their inner peace, causing anger, fear, or even unbearable stress. This is because everyone carries hidden sins within them. When those hidden sins are exposed, it can become unbearable.
There’s a true story from an American university many years ago. Students with exceptional literary talents formed a group to refine their skills and become better writers. They would gather, share their writings, and provide critical feedback to improve each other’s work. In contrast, another group of students—without any particularly outstanding literary talent—focused instead on reading their works aloud, offering encouragement, and complimenting one another. Many years after their graduation, a study found that the group of talented writers who critiqued each other had produced almost no successful authors, while the less talented group, which focused on encouragement and praise, had yielded many successful authors.
The faith community is even more so. We know this: all of us are forgiven sinners, still weak and fallible. Moreover, the level of faith varies among individuals—some have strong faith, while others have weaker faith. Because of this, there is one thing that should not happen within the faith community: judging or criticizing one another.
[Romans 14:1] “Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.” In Rome, they sold food that had been offered to idols in the markets. Some, whose faith was strong, believed, “Idols are nothing,” and ate freely, while others, whose faith was weaker, avoided eating it because they believed consuming such food was wrong. Similarly, there were those who placed great importance on observing special days, while others believed all days were equally significant as God-given days. These groups criticized and looked down on one another, believing they were right and the others were wrong.
Paul admonishes them not to condemn or belittle one another. Instead, he emphasizes that each person's actions—whether because of strong or weak faith—are ultimately for the Lord.
[Romans 14:6]“Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.”
Paul commends them, pointing out that their actions—though they may seem different—are done out of devotion to God and gratitude.
[Romans 14:7-8] “For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
While from a human perspective, it might seem that some do better or worse, through the eyes of faith, Paul declares that all are acting for the Lord and all belong to Him.
What strengthens and builds the church? It is not criticism but faith, hope, and love that nurture and fortify it.
Faith cannot be negative. Why? Because our Creator God is our Father, who loves us, justifies us, and leads our lives in a good direction. How could that bring negativity?
We do not develop positivity simply by thinking positively. Positivity naturally arises because the Lord has chosen us and given us faith, which fosters hope and love.
Thus, as we interact with those around us, let us not judge or criticize, but build a community of faith united by hope, love, and encouragement.
[Application] Do I approach others with a critical attitude of right and wrong, or do I act with hope and love, trusting in God?
3. Acknowledge God's Sovereignty
We are people who believe in Jesus. Believing in Jesus means acknowledging that He is the Lord of our lives. The word "criticize" in today’s passage is equivalent to the word "judge." Criticizing, in this sense, means passing judgment, and if we criticize a brother, it means we are acting as their judge.
We cannot be the master of our brother. We cannot be their judge either. Why? Because the Lord is the Master and Judge of that brother.
[Romans 14:4] "Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand."
Criticizing, judging, and condemning are things only the person’s Master can do. Raising them up is also something their Master can do. So, if we criticize a brother and act as their master, the Lord tells us to stop.
[Romans 14:10] "You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat."
Remember, we do not stand at God's judgment seat as judges to judge others, but as people who will be judged by God, the ultimate Judge.
The Lord told His disciples, "Do not judge others under any circumstance." This is because humans do not have the power or qualification to condemn.
In John chapter 8, there’s a story of Pharisees and teachers of the law who brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus to condemn her. They stood her among them, acting as judges, looking down on her with contempt and scorn. Others in the crowd held stones, ready to execute her for her sin, eagerly anticipating her condemnation. What were they thinking? “I am a righteous warrior upholding justice by punishing evil,” perhaps.
But what did Jesus say to them in such a situation?
[John 8:7] "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."
What does this mean? Only God, who is without sin, can judge and execute judgment on sin. Before judging others’ wrongdoing, Jesus tells them to examine their own lives.
What do we see when we examine ourselves before the holy God? Before His holiness, we see nothing but sin.
And what did Jesus say to the woman?
[John 8:11] "Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin."
As the sinless God, Jesus could have judged and condemned her, yet He chose not to. Why? To save her. Criticizing and condemning do not save people. But forgiving, showing mercy, and covering others’ faults with love lead them to repentance and a life of faith in the Lord.
For those of us who still have sinful nature, criticizing other believers is an act of overstepping our bounds. Since the Lord, their Master, is the one who will take care of them, we must not criticize them as though we are their masters.
[Romans 14:11] "It is written: ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’"
What we must remember is that we are not the Judge—God is. One day, we will all bow before Him and confess to Him.
So, who should be the subject of our judgment? It should not be others but ourselves.
[Romans 14:12] "So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God."
When we stand before God, it is not a place to present others’ faults and mistakes. It is a place where we bring our own faults and sins before Him.
Therefore, the critical eye we turn toward others should be turned inward, toward ourselves.
Believers must have broad hearts. When we recognize that God is the Judge and Sovereign, our hearts will no longer be impatient. Our perspectives will broaden, and our hearts will expand.
Why do we get angry? Why are we impatient? Why can't we accept others? In a word, it's because our hearts are narrow. As our faith grows, our hearts should not become narrower but broader. This is because we grow to know and resemble the broad-hearted God.
Instead of seeing others’ shortcomings and faults, we will begin to notice their strengths and potential. Make it a practice to broaden your heart. Instead of thinking, "This won't do," or "I can't stand this," try thinking, "That can happen," or "They might think that way."
Do not remain uncooperative, refuse to speak, or fight simply because something does not please you. Acknowledge God’s sovereignty and strive for peace with one another. Strive to build each other up.
[Romans 14:19] "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."
I hope our Heavenly Hope Church becomes a place where fewer people criticize and judge others or give them unpleasant looks. Instead, I hope more people work toward peace, build each other up, and warmly smile at one another with broad, open-hearted faith.
The cross is about forgiving, understanding, accepting, and loving others. May our church become one where people practice understanding, forgiveness, acceptance, and love.
[Application] Have you ever acted as though you were the judge? Has your heart become broader this year compared to last year?
하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.
Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.