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Judging Others is the fourth part of a five-part series on Omissions — Things we don’t like to talk about.

fear - suffering - holiness and zeal - judging - jealousy

Judging Others

judging

When it comes to judgement, we know that we shouldn’t be hypocrites, and we should deal with our own issues before dealing with the issues of others. (Matthew 7:1-5)

The world tells us that "love equals tolerance". This same mentality is seeping into the church — and it’s dangerous!

We need to remember that we can and should "recognize people by their fruits", and "judge with right judgment".

1 Corinthians 5:12-13

For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you."

Tolerance

tolerance

Part of the Spirit of this Age is Moral Relativism, and "tolerance". Being "politically correct" has become the new religion! A discerning believer will know that today’s definition of tolerance is essentially lawlessness (Matthew 24:12), which is directly opposed to God's clear instruction in Scripture for His people to rightly judge.

The true definition of tolerance is accepting people, in particular when you don't agree with their opinions or behavior. We must still hate the sin while loving the sinner. Jesus (a Jew) demonstrated this kind of tolerance when he met with a Samaritan woman (Jews have no dealings with Samaritans). He straight-up pointed out to her that she was in sin. John 4:7-27

Many Christians try very hard to be "relevant" to the world, with "good intentions", not trying to "offend" anyone, often at the expense of being true to the Word! What do we then have? A crowd of people who still don’t know the Truth, and are in danger of eternal damnation! Relevance is a natural solution to a supernatural problem. Foolish and blind individuals seek natural solutions to supernatural problems. These things are spiritually perceived. 1 Corinthians 2:14 Someone who can't perceive these things is blind and ought not lead. Luke 6:39

By our silence and avoidance of "hot-button" issues — Scriptural topics that are "politically incorrect", we are giving approval to the sins of unbelievers and thus incurring God’s judgement. It’s our responsibility as The Church to be a bright light in the darkness. Philippians 2:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Unbelievers shouldn’t have any question about what we approve of. Romans 1:32

What side of The Word are we on?

We cannot expect to judge rightly John 7:24 without an accurate moral compass, but if our moral compass is the "whole counsel of God" Acts 20:27 — His Word and His Spirit, we can’t go wrong! John 4:24, 1 John 2:27, 2 Timothy 2:15

Luke 11:35

Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.

Hypocrisy

hypocrisy

Before we judge anyone else, we need to first point the finger at ourselves. In Psalm 51, King David did this when he repented with great sorrow for his sin, so that he could teach transgressors and convert sinners back to God.

Matthew 7:1-5

1 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Jesus wasn’t telling us to never judge, but rather to first rightly judge ourselves and repent so that we can actually be of help. When you have a "log in your eye", you are spiritually blind, and you won’t be able to discern what right judgement is. Luke 6:39

The most severe judgements that Jesus gave were to those who claimed to know God, but were hypocritices. He said the Scribes and Pharisees were "straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel", "cleaning the outside of the cup and the plate" and He compared them to "whitewashed tombs, outwardly beautiful, but full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness within". Matthew 23:23-28

The religious leaders of His time held a strict adherence to the finer points of the law and the traditions of men while missing God’s heart completely, and neglecting to love God and love others. Their hypocrisy was so bad that they didn’t even recognize the Messiah when he was right in their midst. This type of religious hypocrisy continues on to this very day. Church leaders inadvertently kick Jesus out of their congregations all the time!

1 Peter 4:17

For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

In the same way that we are to judge ourselves individually before judging others, is it not those inside the church whom we are to judge?

1 Corinthians 5:11-13

11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you."

2 Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

1 Corinthians 11:31

But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.

Right Judgement

While it is our responsibility to first judge ourselves, as citizens of the Kingdom of God, it is also our responsibility to judge rightly, speaking the truth in love to both believers and unbelievers. John 7:24, Ezekiel 3:16-21, Ezekiel 33:3-9, Galatians 6:1-10, 1 Peter 3:15

Ephesians 4

14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

The tone and approach we use for the correction of sin depends on the nature and severity of the sin in which an individual is caught.

Here’s a couple analogies: If your friend is driving really fast, anticipating crossing a bridge, but the bridge is out, you would be a bad friend if you didn’t urgently warn them of what lies ahead. If your friend is about to be hit by a bus, a good friend would forcefully push them out of the way. At first, it will shock them, maybe even hurt them, but it will ultimately save them from harm, and afterwards, they will be grateful for it. Proverbs 27:6

Discern

We cannot truly obey God, unless we rightly judge what is truth and what is error — good and evil. Hebrews 5:14
Many people, even in the church, try to redefine truths to fit their worldview. Romans 1:18-32
We need to submit to the Word and let Truth be defined by God. 2 Peter 1:20-21

Properly Perceiving The Truth is very important to Jesus!

1 John 5:19

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

If we don’t believe that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one, than our sense of urgency won’t match reality! Warning people by sharing the Gospel with them can actually save their souls from eternal Hellfire! Let’s Biblically discern the hour that we’re in and respond with an accurate heart-posture of passion and urgency!

Correct

God hates when we tolerate sin (Revelation 2:20), but at the same time, He really cares about the way we correct sin.
Matthew 18:15-20, 1 Timothy 5:1-2, 17-20

We need to "bear one another's burdens." While we are not to go around being the "sin police", it’s still our responsibility to "wash one another’s feet" as Jesus modeled for us "restoring them in a spirit of gentleness". Galatians 6:1-10

Rebuke

2 Timothy 4:1-5

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Different contexts call for more impassioned responses. "reprove, rebuke, and exhort." In these instances, right judgement may not look as gentle as "washing eachothers’ feet".

Paul opposed Peter in public, because he was clearly wrong. Galatians 2:11-14

Separate

Matthew 7:6

"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Apparently, we need to make a judgement call about who is even worth correcting. (Please refrain from telling such people that you see them as dogs or pigs.) Proverbs 9:7, Proverbs 26:4-5

In the most extreme cases, we are to let them be to us as a "Gentile and a tax collector", separating from sinful believers, and not even eating with them. "Purge the evil person from among you." Matthew 18:17, 1 Corinthians 5:11-13

Expose

Jesus warned us to beware of false prophets, and told us that we will recognize them by their fruits. Matthew 7:15-20, Matthew 24:4-5, 11

We should follow the Biblical patterns and exhortations of Paul and Jesus and others (John the Baptist, John, Stephen etc.), exposing corrupt leaders, false teachers, and false prophets.

Jesus

Paul

I think these examples are enough to prove the point — that there’s a Scriptural precedence for this level of correction. So why don’t we see this happening more often‽

Accountability

Hebrews 3:13

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 10:25

not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but exhorting one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

People judge all the time, and nobody really minds until they’re held accountable for their sins. For example, we’ve all made the judgement call that sex-trafficking is wrong. People are often commended, or judged as righteous for things like recycling, and taking care of the environment, and saving the whales, but the minute somebody says something against homosexuality or abortion, they are labeled as narrow-minded, unloving, religious bigots.

Thank God for giving us the Scriptures so that we can be confident about what is right and true and just!
Praise Jesus for making us pure through His Blood shed for us on the Cross!
What a wonderful provision we have in His Body, the Saints, to be able to hold eachother up! If we fall, we can be free from sin!

Submit

Confess Sins

Proverbs 18:1

Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.

God the Judge

A loving father will quickly discern what is good and evil for his child, and discipline and reward them accordingly. Proverbs 13:24

As believers, God is our Father. We know that He will judge everyone according to what they have done. Romans 2:1-11

Hebrews 12:8

If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Revelation 3:19

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

He’s coming when you least expect it. Jesus gave a fierce warning that most people will be completely unaware and unprepared. Matthew 25:1-13

Matthew 24:36-39

36 "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

► People, Get Ready!

He’s coming to judge the world!

Instead of feasting and playing, we need to be watching, and praying!

Are we ready‽

Appendix - Bible Verses!

click here to expand the appendix.

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