The Fallacy of Judge Not
As for “not judging your neighbor” (1), this needs to be clarified. First of all, Christians are commanded to judge those “within the Church” (Math. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:12-13; 2 Thess. 3:14; 1 Tim. 5:20) (2). Therefore, those within the Body of Christ are accountable to the Body of Christ. The behavior and teachings of believers are subject to the judgment of the body of believers. And while those outside the Church (unbelievers) are not subject to the Church, those within the Church (believers) are. Church discipline is clearly put forth in Scripture where those within the Church are disciplined for unbiblical behavior or teachings. This is not to bring punishment, but, correction so the erring believer will repent and reform.
This is to keep the Church pure, and regardless of anyone’s individual opinion on these matters, passages such as listed above clearly invest this responsibility to the Church. Honestly, if the Church did her job and judged herself and disciplined herself more she would be more pure and there would be less criticism leveled at her for being “hypocritical.” It is plain and obvious from Scripture that professing Christians are accountable to other Christians.
Now a clarification needs to be made regarding what judging is. If by judging we mean having a hateful and arrogant attitude towards homosexuals, and making punitive efforts, then “judging” is prohibited. God is the Judge who brings condemnation and retribution. He is the One who “pays back” everyone according to their deeds (Ps. 62:12; Math. 16:27; Rom. 2:6; 2 Thess. 1:8-9; Rev. 20:13). That is not the Church’s role. The Church’s role is to warn about this coming judgment of God and point people to salvation from His judgment through faith in Jesus Christ.
However, a different kind of judging is not only necessary, but, a requirement for the Church. By “judging” here we mean that the behavior and teachings of people are to be “evaluated” and “assessed” to see if they conform to what is said in Scripture. This is an expectation that God has for the Church and individual Christians. We are expected by the Lord to look at everything that is said and done in the world (and within the Church) to determine if what we see is right or wrong according to His Word. It’s not the Church’s opinion. The Church is to declare what God has said in these matters and the matter of homosexuality is not to be overlooked. The Church must judge the practice of homosexuality, which means that it must look at the Scriptures and say with God that it is sin.
Paul says Judge not those outside the Church (1 Cor. 5:12). This means that those outside the Church (unbelievers) are not accountable to the Church. The Church is however to proclaim the Gospel. And comfortable or not, like it or not, that does include telling people that like every other human being they are sinful before a holy God.
But what should compel us to do this? What would motivate us as Christians to say this? The answer is that God’s love compels us. His love compels us to speak – not to be silent. It is not “loving” for a believer to keep silent when God has not been silent. It is actually unloving to not tell someone that God forgives if you know that He does. Anyone who excuses themselves from speaking the Gospel under the guise of being “loving” is in reality not loving. The reality is that they are afraid. They are looking out only for themselves. They don’t want people to say bad things about them. Such self-preservation is actually selfishness beneath a mask of “loving” and “not judging” others.
Buck up. Jesus didn’t come to be popular in the world. He came to be crucified, which the world was more than happy to do. If that’s what they did to Him, don’t expect better treatment as His servants (John 15:20).
(1)Schuitman, Carole M. “No One is Without Sin.” The Grand Haven Tribune [Grand Haven, MI] 25/06/2012: 25 Jun. 2012,
http://www.grandhaventribune.com/content/letter-editor-no-one-without-sin
(2)These passages are commands for the Church to exercise discipline of its members. Therefore t is necessary and logical that the Church makes judgments of its members conduct and determine it to be according to Scripture or not.
As for “not judging your neighbor” (1), this needs to be clarified. First of all, Christians are commanded to judge those “within the Church” (Math. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:12-13; 2 Thess. 3:14; 1 Tim. 5:20) (2). Therefore, those within the Body of Christ are accountable to the Body of Christ. The behavior and teachings of believers are subject to the judgment of the body of believers. And while those outside the Church (unbelievers) are not subject to the Church, those within the Church (believers) are. Church discipline is clearly put forth in Scripture where those within the Church are disciplined for unbiblical behavior or teachings. This is not to bring punishment, but, correction so the erring believer will repent and reform.
This is to keep the Church pure, and regardless of anyone’s individual opinion on these matters, passages such as listed above clearly invest this responsibility to the Church. Honestly, if the Church did her job and judged herself and disciplined herself more she would be more pure and there would be less criticism leveled at her for being “hypocritical.” It is plain and obvious from Scripture that professing Christians are accountable to other Christians.
Now a clarification needs to be made regarding what judging is. If by judging we mean having a hateful and arrogant attitude towards homosexuals, and making punitive efforts, then “judging” is prohibited. God is the Judge who brings condemnation and retribution. He is the One who “pays back” everyone according to their deeds (Ps. 62:12; Math. 16:27; Rom. 2:6; 2 Thess. 1:8-9; Rev. 20:13). That is not the Church’s role. The Church’s role is to warn about this coming judgment of God and point people to salvation from His judgment through faith in Jesus Christ.
However, a different kind of judging is not only necessary, but, a requirement for the Church. By “judging” here we mean that the behavior and teachings of people are to be “evaluated” and “assessed” to see if they conform to what is said in Scripture. This is an expectation that God has for the Church and individual Christians. We are expected by the Lord to look at everything that is said and done in the world (and within the Church) to determine if what we see is right or wrong according to His Word. It’s not the Church’s opinion. The Church is to declare what God has said in these matters and the matter of homosexuality is not to be overlooked. The Church must judge the practice of homosexuality, which means that it must look at the Scriptures and say with God that it is sin.
Paul says Judge not those outside the Church (1 Cor. 5:12). This means that those outside the Church (unbelievers) are not accountable to the Church. The Church is however to proclaim the Gospel. And comfortable or not, like it or not, that does include telling people that like every other human being they are sinful before a holy God.
But what should compel us to do this? What would motivate us as Christians to say this? The answer is that God’s love compels us. His love compels us to speak – not to be silent. It is not “loving” for a believer to keep silent when God has not been silent. It is actually unloving to not tell someone that God forgives if you know that He does. Anyone who excuses themselves from speaking the Gospel under the guise of being “loving” is in reality not loving. The reality is that they are afraid. They are looking out only for themselves. They don’t want people to say bad things about them. Such self-preservation is actually selfishness beneath a mask of “loving” and “not judging” others.
Buck up. Jesus didn’t come to be popular in the world. He came to be crucified, which the world was more than happy to do. If that’s what they did to Him, don’t expect better treatment as His servants (John 15:20).
(1)Schuitman, Carole M. “No One is Without Sin.” The Grand Haven Tribune [Grand Haven, MI] 25/06/2012: 25 Jun. 2012,
http://www.grandhaventribune.com/content/letter-editor-no-one-without-sin
(2)These passages are commands for the Church to exercise discipline of its members. Therefore t is necessary and logical that the Church makes judgments of its members conduct and determine it to be according to Scripture or not.
Comments
Post a Comment