Judgment! Are we supposed to judge? Yes or No?? Where in the
bible does it say so either ways?
In Matthew 7:1, Jesus says “Do not judge” Yet, in 1 Timothy
1:3 St. Paul tells us “command men not to teach false doctrines”. So, how can
we speak against a doctrine without first JUDGING it to be FALSE? Jesus says
not to judge BUT, He also said in John 7:24 “Stop judging by mere appearances,
and make a RIGHT judgment.”
The word "judging" has been wrongly understood by
many believers and followers of Christ. If by judgment you mean to accuse someone of
wrongdoing, then follow Jesus' example and do not judge until you are certain
that you are perfectly pure.
1 King 3:9 - Give therefore your servant an understanding
heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and bad.
Job 34:4 - Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
Job 34:4 - Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
1 Corinthians 2:15 - The spiritual man makes judgments about all
things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment.
Seems obvious that there are 2 different types of judgment:
1- Personal Judgment
2- Righteous Judgment
Personal judgment is when you judge someone’s personal
motives when only God knows what is in their hearts. It comes with gossiping,
malicious thoughts and misunderstanding the others.
Righteous judgment is judgment according to God’s righteousness
in both what we do and teach.
Examples of Righteous Judgment:
Example 1- A man was leading an immoral and unrepentant lifestyle
was judged and removed from church.
1 Corinthians 5:1-13
1It is actually reported that
there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated
even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.
2And you
are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be
removed from among you.
Example 2- False teaching confrontation, when St. Paul confronted St. Peter about circumcision.
Galatian 2:11-21
11 But when
Peter came to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be
blamed.
12 For before
certain ones came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they had come,
he withdrew and separated himself from them, fearing those who were of the
Circumcision.
And many other examples would follow…
So, it is obvious why the church confronted
sin and false doctrines. It leads people to hell, as in 1 Timothy 1:3-5.
5 Whereas the
object and purpose of our instruction and charge is love, which springs from a
pure heart and a good (clear) conscience and sincere (unfeigned) faith.
In the anecdote of the woman who was taken
in adultery and was about to be stoned, Jesus told her: “Go, from now on sin no
more.” John 8:11
God loves the sinner but hates
the sin. Be aware that the woman's sin was forgiven yet, it was not EXCUSED.
Jesus did not say “Girls are girls, this is how today’s girls behave. I know how it
is tempting. I know it’s unrealistic to live a pure life in a society full of
all the bla bla bla that we see today.”
Through misunderstanding of such verse teaching,
you cannot call what is wrong “Wrong”.
Jesus told here “Then neither do I condemn you.” But then, he told her “SIN NO MORE.” Jesus never told her “I forgive you. Go and sin some more.” The verse does not teach that you cannot call what is wrong “wrong” and what is a sin “Sin”. It does not teach that you cannot judge the sinful actions and behaviors of other people.
Jesus told here “Then neither do I condemn you.” But then, he told her “SIN NO MORE.” Jesus never told her “I forgive you. Go and sin some more.” The verse does not teach that you cannot call what is wrong “wrong” and what is a sin “Sin”. It does not teach that you cannot judge the sinful actions and behaviors of other people.
Jesus never said that there are sinless
people, even if their lives were one day on earth. He did not say only sinless
people – if provided - can judge other people’s actions, while there are no
perfect judges, there are no sinless judges.
Every one of us, not only has to say that something
wrong is “wrong”, but we have the responsibility to call something wrong
is “wrong”. Because you do not judge the thief, but Stealing. Not to judge the liar
yet, judge the lie. And it all shall be for the love of fellow man, in a humble
and compassionate spirit.
God loves us just the way we are but, he
loves us too much to let us stay that way. - James Merritt
Some say “We don’t judge. Let us keep the
unity.” While souls are being led to hell day after day. If you were in error,
wouldn’t you want someone to go against the TREND and WARN you? So, for the
love do it for your neighbor. As
mentioned by James 4:17 “So any person who knows what is right to do but does
not do it, to him it is sin.”
Failing to judge righteously and warn
about false teachers is terribly coldhearted as it will leave a sinner on the
broad road to hell. It will bit by bit turn the holiest group of believers (Church) into more of a SOCIAL CLUB.
May the Lord give us understanding heart to judge, that we may discern between good and bad.
Blessings,
Andy.
