Matt Langley

I think you are making some very illogical connections in what you use as "context". "Problem is, if we're all sinners, we have this constant plank in our eye!" No that doesn't... for one the verse I quoted ended with: "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." It clearly instructs you to indeed judge and let others know what you judge if you really know what you're talking about. It's a simply admonition to check your own situation before judging others, we often know when we are indeed worse off than they but often still naively advise others in areas we fail in. Reason would dictate the person should not take advice from a person who has proven to fail at that area. The verse is dictating simple reason and common sense. The statement "we'are all sinners" is obvious. It's a simple statement with simple meaning. A reminder that we all can look past the truth at times, no matter how reasoned we think we are. No one is perfect, we all make mistakes. It just strengthens that admonition to check yourself. It reminds you that you (like everyone else) makes mistakes too and maybe before you judge (especially judging harshly) should check your own faults in that area first. For one context means this: What you are doing is taking ridiculously broad context that doesn't make sense. You are defying reason by linking a specific situation to a general statement made. Not very logical. Just because Jesus defended the life of a woman, by saying those without sin should throw the first stone, it doesn't mean that same principal applies to every situation. In fact if anything there is a distinct difference between Matthew 7:1-5 (telling you not to judge if you in fact are worse at that aspect then that person) and John 8:7 (Jesus defending the life of a woman by telling those without sin to throw the first stone). One is Jesus teaching general principles in a gathering to a group of people. The other is an event in which Jesus is defending a woman by saying what he does. By definition that is what context is. One is Jesus purposely teaching concepts, the other is Jesus acting in a specfic situation. Reason should be your guide, not the goal to incorrectly use "context" in an illogical way.

@Inspector: I agree completely... "don't judge" is completely ridiculous and makes no sense at all. I hear many Christians state this as a creed and morally correct; however, the funniest part about that the statement most Christians have spawned this narrow minded interpretation is talking about something completely different. @Bold Standard: This is where I disagree. Just because many Christians profess this beleif it doesn't mean it is actually warranted by the source. For example the quote you mentioned: Is like taking two sentences of yours and manipulating it to say what I want. You need to take things in context, if anything reason dictates you evaluate things as a whole and in context and not chopped up into falsehoods. I mean you can argue a point that isn't being made but that makes no sense or reason at all. Lets take a look at the context of that verse you quoted (look up the King James version if you want, I personally am not a fan of the King James translation, though this verse says the same things despite the translation) Ok so if you read on a couple more sentences you can get a bit more context. Instantly the meaning of that verse changes dramatically. In fact most Christians are too lazy to read on further and like to blindly quote parts of scripture without considering the context (so I don't blame you too much for doing the same, though you should be better about this considering your a fellow advocate of reason). Upon further inspection it is clear this verse is instructing you not to judge someone else about a problem if you have an even worse problem in the same area. "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?" It is clear it doesn't imply to "never judge" as many interpret it... because it goes on to say: "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." So basically if your a beggar on the streets don't instruct someone of low income on financial advice. If anything this verse advocates reason. If you judge and admonish another for being rude to someone unjustly and then curse someone else because your in a bad mood and it isn't warranted then you are being a hypocrite. In fact if you do this you are acting completely out of reason and a true perception of reality, but a fancifull view in which you don't look at your own issues. on the other hand it does instruct that if you either don't have a "plank" in your eye (or if you remove it if you do) then you "will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye". In my opinion these are wise words full of reason. Bold Standard you really should read things in context. No offense intended, though as we are discussing it is indeed okay to judge eachother and in the horrible way you quoted the scripture out of context (like many Christians do unofortunately) you show a bad representation of reason.