I would like to quote a particular section of this book of Michael Davies:
'Keep in mind that we are not so presumptuous as to judge the subjective culpability of anyone, including a bishop, nor are we concerned with private worldliness or unworthiness. For those who erroneously feel that all
criticism and judgment making is wrongful in the sight of God, consider:
* a. Jesus Christ often criticized religious leaders and encouraged His Apostles to do the same.
* b. Our Saviour bequeathed to us the great spiritual work of mercy, to "admonish the sinner." How does one admonish without making judgments as to who, objectively, is a sinner?
* c. St. John the Baptist passed judgment on King Herod, "It is not lawful to have her" (Mt. 14:4)
* d. St. Anthony was the Hammer of Heretics, not merely of heresy.
* e. The Catholic laity, during the reign of Henry VIII, was obliged to judge which of their new hierarchy had defected to the King's new religion, and which of them had remained loyal to the Pope.
* f. So also were Roman Catholics in Germany and Scandinavia compelled to make judgments about sacerdotal apostasy to Lutheranism.
* g. The Biblical dictum: "Judge not lest ye be judged," must be taken, as all Scriptural quotes, in the context of God's total revelation and the example of Christ.
This New Testament instruction obviously refers to rash judgments and/or judgments of a sinner's subjective culpability. If all judgments were immoral then no parent, no priest, no teacher, no police officer, could ever exercise the necessary judgment as to whether the lad up the block is an evil influence on your son; or criticize the radical who burns crosses on the lawn; or make judgments about Mao Tse Tung, Adolf Hitler, Hugh Hefner or even Bert Lance.
* h. Of course Liberals have no such conscience hang-ups. they will judge Richard Nixon, until the cows come home, with nary the slightest twinge of remorse.
(This last example reminds me of Our Lord's saying regarding the children of light not having the boldness of the children of darkness).i
Topic: Deja vu (Read 487 times)