JUDGE or judge NOT?

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.

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 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.