Should Christians Judge?....... Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? —1 Corinthians 6:2–3 One day I was talking with someone who wasnt going to church anywhere, and I asked why. Well, I dont want to be judged, the person said. The fact was that this individual was doing something unscriptural, and I had mentioned it. I said, Well, what do you be mean by not wanting to be judged? What is your definition of being judged? Well, Im afraid that if I showed up, people wouldnt agree with what Im doing and would say something. So that is being judged? I asked. Yes, it is. I hope that if you go to a church, someone would say something, I said. (That would be the loving thing to do.) I think the nonbelievers favorite verse is Matthew 7:1: Judge not, that you be not judged. Nonbelievers love to quote that to Christians who dare to confront them. But we need to understand what judge means in this verse. Jesus spoke these words in the Sermon on the Mount, and the word He used for judge means condemn. Jesus was saying, Condemn not, that you be not condemned. I am in no position to condemn someone. It is not for me to say who is going to hell. That is for God to decide. But I should apply discernment, wisdom, and even judgment with fellow believers. Judgment is an evaluation. Its saying to another believer, Hey, I dont think you are doing as well as you could be doing or I want to encourage you. That is encouraged in the Scriptures (see 1 Corinthians 6:2–3). So in a way, we should apply judgment—but not condemnation. We want to lovingly tell the truth from Gods Word with humility, wanting to help that person reach his or her full potential as a follower of Jesus.
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 00:20:14 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015