On Judgment by and from Christians
Shall we avoid pointing out sin because someone might be offended, or for fear of being called judgmental? Should Christians Judge?
So many times I have seen Christians argue about how we are not to argue! "Who are you to judge me?"
Today, one of the most popular ideas is that Christians should not judge-ANYONE! Literally, this is based upon a single verse in Scripture, in three Gospels:
(Matthew 7:1)
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
We are never to base any of our doctrine on a single verse, out of context, when there are other verses to clarify it. It is called exegesis. We are called, commanded to read the Scriptures, not read into them. When one quotes the verse "judge not, lest ye be judged", they simply take the verse out of its context and twist it to make it seem like it is always applicable and, in the process, judge other Christians for declaring sin; therefore they judge the other person's judgment.
This whole idea is simply worldly, carnal, fleshly, sinful Newspeak...a lie straight out of the pit of hell...Who is anyone to judge another's judgment and discernment judging as wrong? Simply because someone is offended does not make it wrong.
No place in Scripture does it teach we are not to look at the fruit, the actions of others and judge it. It tells us to look for wolves in sheep's clothing, bad fruit, to avoid the person who is a sinner, refuses to work, a fornicator, etc. NONE of that is possible without using judgment, discernment. ALL involve people and their actions. All involve our ability to discern from Scripture.
Opening your mouth to preach truth and declare visible unrighteousness and calling out sin is not judgment like sending them to hell. Neither is warning people about sin. We are told not to be tolerant of sin. Period.
When we as Christians must call out all sin for what it is, we simply state what God states clearly in His Word, and say that we agree with God, as though He really needs us to agree. God declares sin is always a choice. God is always correct. We do the same when we correct bad doctrine. Usually it is unteachable spirits who get all bent out of shape when someone tries to correct t hem or point out sin. It comes from self-righteousness and pride is all. We have a mind and a mouth which God gave us, and tells us to use.
Romans 1:26-28
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Unbelievers hate hearing about how sodomy is a sin, and even some Christians, even some pastors, refuse to talk about it and discuss this abomination.
This is also true with women who want to teach men, and have no business trying to teach them what the Bible says, which is why Paul wrote this:
1 Timothy 2:11-12
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
We need to not do DEDUCTIVE Bible study, but rather INDUCTIVE, like the people IN the Bible did, including Jesus Himself.
(1 Corinthians 14:34-35)
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
(1 Timothy 2:11-15)
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
So many Christian woman in America abhor thiese teachings of Scripture, simply because the women's lib movement of the 60s and 70s was so successful at brainwashing them. So many times I have seen women argue about not arguing!
Judgment by Christians
(2 Timothy 3:16)
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
One cannot fulfill this verse by using the Word of God to teach doctrine, reprove, correct and instruct without some form of judgment. Often, way too often, these practices are confused with unrighteous judgment, merely because the person has an unteachable spirit.
Matthew 5:20
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
How would you know if it exceeds it without judging?
Luke 7:41-43
There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 7:16-20
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
How can you be wary of them without using your own judgment to judge their fruits?
Matthew 18:15-17
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
We are to judge things people are doing from within the Church and not go to the world's courts and sue:
1 Corinthians 6:1-5
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
When Christians sue in open court, no one in the Church says a word. When they declare sin in the sanctuary, in the public, all of a sudden, we are wrong to do so. Paul says we are to do it at God's House first.
1 Peter 4:17
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1 Corinthians 2:15-16
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Why is he "judged of no man"? Because he is beyond reproach, not because he is not accountable to the brethren!
1 Corinthians 5:3-5
For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Paul already judged...he simply was asking them to pronounce and execute the sentence.
1 Corinthians 5:7
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
You need to judge what is old leaven in order to purge it.
1 Corinthians 5:9-13I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
John 7:24
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
The Bereans prepared themselves to judge Paul's teachings
Acts 20:29-31
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
"Wolves in wool"......without discernment, there is no way to look under the wool to see if it is a sheep or a wolf.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
He should not waste three years preparing them to judge, only to have them be non-judgmental and allow grievous wolves enter in.
1 Corinthians 14:29
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. Titus 1, 1 Timothy 3 are all about qualifications for leadership. There is simply no way to determine fitness for leadership without proper judgment. Judge their deeds, warn the unruly: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
2 Thessalonians 3:6
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
Church rebuked for allowing sin and not judging it by removal:
Revelation 2:20
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
(John 2:15)
And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
(2 Timothy 4:3)
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
Let me repeat..............even IF you "do it in love" or "nicely" or "with civility" there are always unteachable spirits who will always falsely accuse you of being "unloving" or "cold" or "unChristlike" or any number of evil things.
Christians say they want you to "speak the truth in love". Most actually, really, only want you to speak in love, truth or not. Truth often hurts, and so does love.
Truth and love are 100% inseparable. This is because Jesus is both.
(John 14:6)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
(1 John 4:8)
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
I love you all..............in the truth
(2 John 1:1)
The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
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