Should Christians judge one another? (Read 1 Cor 5:9-13) One of the most twisted scriptures in the Bible is Jesus’ pronouncement below… Matthew 7:1-2 (NKJV) 1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. Whenever anyone is confronted with their sinful lifestyle and asked to change, they seem to become astute students of the Bible and throw this verse at you!Well, God gives Christians some guidelines on judging. Firstly, we are not to judge those who are not called brethren (vs 12-13), these fall directly under God’s judgment (John 12:47-48). When they refuse to listen to the counsel of The Lord they already judge themselves and will be accountable on judgment day. Meantime we have no place as Christians to judge them. Secondly, we are to judge those who are called brethren (1 Cor 6:3-4). Here is the process 1. Confront (Matt 18:15-16) – Three fold. Firstly privately. No change? Then with a witness. No change still? Then the church counsel. 2. Discipline (Matt 18:17-20) – Ideally it means putting away (1 Cor 5:7-8) usually for redemptive purposes (discipline for humility). No remorse? Then it becomes punitive (excommunication). The well-known “binding and loosing” scripture above refers to this process. When “two or three” gather as the church, Jesus is there. He gave the church the authority to exercise this. Thus the elders are given this authority judging toward the brethren. One can see that this process is done for redemption through the grace of God. Should those wanting have a broken, humble spirit and a penitent heart, God will never despise (Psalm 51:17). So, if you are a non-believer, we dont judge but pray and persuade change. However, if you are brethren (saved) and purposefully live a sinful lifestyle (verses above), then not only will we confront you, but will judge and mete out whatever disciple bearing in mind redemption.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 03:45:11 +0000
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