You have heard it said “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” This fragment of scripture is used against Christians by those who seek to discredit the church, therefore justifying individual reasons not to submit to the influence of the church in their own lives. When eternal security is jeopardized, understanding what judgment and judging is all about is important.
In our passage, the Corinthians are being rebuked by Paul for allowing sinful practices into their church. Paul named an incident of a son sleeping with his own mother. Paul counseled them to put those people out of the church and to not have anything to do with them.
In so doing, Paul tells them that they are not judging those in their church. So from this passage we know that in our church we are to have a watchful eye and confront those who practice sin.
This type of judgment over the lives of others is for the safety of the people attending church; for there is danger that the acceptance of sinful ways will spread through the people of the church like an infection.
But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?1 Corinthians 5:11-12 (NKJV)
Many will contend, "I thought it was wrong to judge?" "Is it not their own business?" "Are they not accountable to God?"
The statement "Judge not, lest ye be judged", was said by Jesus in Matthew 7. Jesus was addressing his own disciples and counseling them not to be like the Pharisees.
The Pharisees would judge people for the tiniest thing, like taking too many steps on the Sabbath. They would judge people, shame them, and at the same time were harboring worse sins; such as, plotting to kill Jesus. Anyone can judge this as being wrong.
What Jesus said was, "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Matthew 7:1-3 (NKJV)
The twisting of this passage is what has prompted people to criticize Christians who openly declare all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. They proclaim, "Why are you judging me. Even the Bible says not to judge!"
Partially to blame for these excited answers is the way some Christians have handled judgment. They have did as the Pharisees and scorned people, outside of Christ, for their sin.
Some have taken up signs, parading around in public, scorning the ways of others; picketing bars, nightclubs, and sidewalks around our cities. These tell others they are going to hell for their sin. These have turned judgment into public scorn, casting a shadow on the church, villainizing the church. The public sees cheerleaders ready to accept and applauded the destruction of lost souls.
Many have missed the importance of how we as Christians are to judge. After all, it is rarely a topic at church and one only those who study their scriptures will review.
In the Matthew 7 Jesus was explaining judgment is to be righteous. Jesus was confronted for healing a paralytic man on the Sabbath. Jesus was being judged for an unlawful act against the scriptures. This act was considered the same as working on the Sabbath.
Then they accused Jesus of not knowing the scriptures; to which Jesus answered them saying, according to the Law of Moses you circumcise on the Sabbath. What have I done wrong to heal a man on the Sabbath. The comparison was towards the work and effort which must take place to conduct each act.
To these accusers, Jesus answered, Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."
Righteous Judgment says healing a person and restoring his faith in God is of the same important which a man makes when committing to God to be circumcised. All in all God is pleased.
Therefore, we have the bedrock or foundation for judgment. How to judge cannot be held to a set of rules, but must be made through consideration of circumstances.
If we visit the issue of people holding signs warning of God's judgment and condemnation, it is plane to see they have become agitators of the public. Yet God is never instructs us to use the scriptures to agitate.
God instructs us to love, to seek out the lost and restore. "How will people know you are my disciples? By your love one to another." Jesus said.
In the case of the street sign agitators, broadcasting the condemnation of people to hell, those within their own church should judge the practice to see if it conforms to the scriptures.
Righteous judgment would tell them the scriptures say, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:17(NKJV)
No matter our zeal to see people saved, church people should not condemn those outside the church. It is important to remember, God will add to the church as He sees fit and we do not need to desperately judge those outside the church.
It is God who reaches out to people in love and wants us to be the bearer of Good News, peace, good will towards all men. God is not cheerleading those who will be sent to hell; He is longing that they may be saved.
Paul was very upset the Corinthian church was allowing bad customs, actions, and motivations, into the church. People called themselves Christians, but in it was only a name they took. With their actions there were many who did not understand and were in need to be taught.
What have I to do with judging those outside of the church? Paul said. Jesus did not come into this world to condemn the world, but through Him, they might be saved. Why cast judgment on them?
Paul continues by saying, You do not judge righteously those within the church? They were missing the truth that we come to God to be holy, to be sanctified, and commit our ways unto God.
The most important part of keeping the body of Christ healthy is righteous judgment. When we judge righteously, we look for those sins that Bible specifically tells us are not to be allowed in our church.
In our passage Paul lists several things which should not be named among Christians; fornication, covetousness, extortion, idolatry, drunkenness, and a person who provokes others to do so. This was a quick list and yet, much of this existed in the church at Corinth.
Righteous Judgment is to be conducted by the leaders and the people of the church to keep God's children safe. Of course, there is a righteous way to handle these matters and how to handle these matters takes judgment of its own.
Therefore, we are to judge, but judgment begins in the house of God that we might effectively reach out in love and show the world God's holiness in meekness and in truth.
