Judge Adams, Part 2: “Judge Not That You Not Be Judged . . .”

Christian scripture is very clear.  In Romans, Paul doesn’t mince words about the hypocrisy of sitting in judgment on another  . . .  when you are doing the exact same things.

Texas Judge William Adams might want to study Romans more closely.  Judge Adams has been seen by thousands of people in a YouTube video where he mercilessly beats his teenage daughter.   [see earlier blog] He was subsequently suspended from his role as a Family Court Judge by the state judicial commission.

So Adams appears to be a father who abuses his own child in private and in public carries out the role of a Family Court Judge to judge other parents who are abusing their children.  Paul was clear about what was wrong with this picture.

Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.  . . . Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God?  Romans 2:1,3 NRSV

Although some have misinterpreted this passage as suggesting that Christians should not judge anyone about anything, it is actually a passage about hypocrisy.

In the case of Judge Adams, it is hypocrisy on steroids --- not only in terms of his professional role and responsibility, but also in terms of his own spiritual condition. Fortunately the state judicial commission realized that this contradiction between his private parenting and his public role was too much to tolerate and suspended him.  Hopefully they will go further and fire him.

But Paul is also concerned here with one’s spiritual well-being.  “Do you think that you will escape the judgment of God?”  Judge Adams admits the behavior we see in the video but denies any fault or wrongdoing.  He doesn’t see any contradiction at all.  “But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2:5)

If I were he, I would be a little concerned about that judgment day.

Rev. Dr. Marie M. Fortune
FaithTrust Institute
www.faithtrustinstitute.org