The question -- "Is it right to judge?" -- causes many sincere Christians to become frustrated and confused. Upon careful study of the Bible, one finds that it is not only right, but our Christian duty to judge. The Scripture commands us to! Let’s do a study together on “judging”. And please, judge what we say by the word of God. Open up your bibles and follow along by looking up each Scripture that is given and making sure you understand it in context.
The Lord Jesus Christ commanded, “...Judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). He told a man, "...Thou hast rightly judged" (Lk.7:43), to others, our Lord asked, "Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?" (Lk.12:57)
The Apostle Paul wrote, "I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say" (1 Cor. 10:15). Again, Paul declared, "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things..." (1 Cor. 2:15). It is our positive duty to judge.
"Beware of false prophets..." (Matt.7:15) is the warning and command of our Lord. But how could we "beware" and how could we know they are "false prophets" if we did not judge? And what is the God-given standard by which we are to judge?
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isa.8:20) "Ye shall know them by their fruits." (Matt.7:16).
In judging the "fruits", we must judge by God's word, not by what appeals to human reasoning. Many things seem good to human judgment which are contrary to the word of God. The Apostle Paul admonished believers:
"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Rom.16:17-18)
This apostolic command could not be obeyed were it not right to judge. God wants us to know His word and then test all teachers and teachings by it. Notice also that it is the false teachers who make the "divisions" and not those who protest against their false teaching. And these deceivers are not serving Christ, as they profess, "but their own belly." We are to "mark them" and avoid them.
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord..." (2 Cor.6:17). "...From such turn away." (2 Tim.3:5). "...Withdraw yourselves..." (2 Thess. 3:6). "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Eph.5:11). "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." (Rom. 12:9). "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1Thess. 5:21)
It would be impossible to obey these injunctions of God's word unless it were right to judge!! And remember, nothing is "good" in God's sight that is not true to His word! The Apostle John wrote:
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [test, judge] the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1Jn.4:1)
"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh...If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (2 John 7, 10-11).
This Scripture commands us to judge between those who do, and those who do not bring the true doctrine of Christ!
Whenever a child of God contributes to a denominational budget that supports false or compromising doctrines, he is guilty before God, according to this Scripture, of bidding them, "God speed" in the most effective way possible. He thereby becomes a "partaker" with them of their "evil deeds" of spreading soul damning poison. How terrible, but how true! Arouse yourself, child of God. If you are guilty, ask God to forgive you and help you never again to be guilty of the blood of souls for whom Christ died. When we are willing to suffer for Christ, we can readily see the truth of God's word on this tremendously important matter. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him.” (2Tim.2:12)
One of the best known and most misunderstood and misapplied Scriptures is "Judge not" (Matt.7:1). Let us examine the entire passage:
“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” (Matt.7:1-5)
Read this again carefully. Notice that it is addressed to a hypocrite! -- not to those who sincerely want to discern whether a teacher or teaching is true or false to God's word! And instead of being a prohibition against honest judgment, it is a solemn warning against hypocritical judgment. In fact, the last statement of this Scripture commands sincere judgment :
"Then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."
If we take a verse or a part of a verse out if its setting, we can make the word of God appear to teach the very opposite of what it really does teach. And those who do this cannot escape the judgment of God for twisting His word (2 Pet. 3:16). Let this be a warning to never take a text of Scripture out of its context!
Many who piously quote, "Judge not," out of its context, in order to defend that which is false to God's word, do not see their own inconsistency in thus judging those who would obey God's word about judging that which is untrue to the Bible. It is tragic that so much that is anti-Scriptural has undeservedly found shelter behind a misuse of the Scripture just quoted. The reason the professed church of Christ is today honeycombed and paralyzed by satanic doctrines is because Christians have not obeyed the commands of God's word to judge and put away and separate from false teachers and false teaching when they first appeared in their midst. But all too often, those sitting in church pews are afraid of confronting a church leader, should they hear something that “doesn’t sound quite right”. And others believe it is wrong to rebuke a church leader, as if they are above rebuke. The greatest peril of our day is not too much judging, but too little judging of spiritual falsehood! God wants His children to be like the noble Bereans who
"...searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11)
Romans 2:1-3 is also addressed to the religious hypocrite who condemned himself because he was guilty of the same things for which he condemned others. James 4:11-12 refers to an evil spirit of backbiting and fault-finding, not to judging whether teachers or teachings agree or disagree with God's word. The Bible never contradicts itself. To understand one portion of Scripture we must view it in the light of all Scripture.
"No prophecy of the Scripture is of any private [isolated] interpretation" (2 Pet.1:20). "...comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (1 Cor. 2:13)
The parable of the "Wheat and Tares" of Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, is also much misunderstood. First of all, our Lord is talking about the world, not His Church -- "...the field is the world." He goes on to say that:
"...the good seed are the children of the Kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one."
They are the two groups in (not “of” but “in”) the world; children of God -- those who have received Christ (John 1:12), and the children of the devil -- those who reject Christ (John 8:44). When any of the "children of the wicked one" get into the professed church of Christ, as they have always done, a definite procedure for God's children is set forth in His word. First, it is their duty to tell them that they have "neither part nor lot" in Christ (see Acts 8:21-23 and context). If the children of the devil do not leave voluntarily, as is generally the case, God's children are commanded to "purge out" (1 Cor.5:7) these unbelievers. Amos 3:3 puts forth an interesting question, “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” Of course not, for there is the path that leads to eternal life, and the path that leads to hell. God's people have disobeyed His word about this, and so unbelievers and disobedient brethren (2Thess.3:6, 14-15) have gained control, as is now the case in most denominations. Therefore, those who purpose to be true to Christ and His word are commanded to "come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord" (2 Cor. 6:17), regardless of property or any other considerations. When we obey God's word, we can trust Him to take care of all the consequences of our obedience.
The New Testament Greek word that is most often translated "judgement" or "judge" is "krino." On the one hand, it means to distinguish, to decide, to determine, to conclude, to try, to think and to call in question. That is what God wants His children to do as to whether preachers, teachers and their teachings are true or false to His word. The Apostle Paul writes:
"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent…." (Phil.1:9-10)
A secular view of love and a lack of knowledge and judgment causes God's people often to approve things that are anything but excellent in God's sight. 1Cor. 13:6 tells us that love, “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.” The epistle to the Hebrews tells us that mature believers, that is, those who are of "full age", are:
"...those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Heb.5:11-14).
We do this by studying God’s word and asking the Lord to give us understanding through His Holy Spirit. The more you obey God’s command to study, the easier it is to distinguish between good and evil.
On the other hand, the Greek word “krino” (judge or judgment) means to condemn, to sentence and to punish. This is God's prerogative, for He has said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." (Rom.12:19)
If you are saved, my reader, let us not forget that "We must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ." (2 Cor. 5:10) It will be well with those who are studying God's word, walking in the light of it, living for Christ and the salvation of souls. It will go ill with those who have accepted Christ but who are living for the things of this world. If you are a mere professor of Christ, or profess nothing, my friend, may I lovingly remind you of 1Peter 4:17:
“That judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?”
“Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly [alert, on guard against false teachings], not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (Eph.5:14-17)
If you are not saved, it is high time you get on your knees and ask the Lord to save you, a sinner and accept the gift of eternal life. If you feel you are saved, (and my friend, I pray you are), then I testify to you that too many souls are being lost because of the church’s apathy and lack of love for truth. Carefully listen to these words:
“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be ye not therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Eph.5:6-11)
Prove what is acceptable unto the Lord by studying His word. This is acceptable in the sight of God. I so enjoyed the following quote that I just had to share it with all of you.
"For there is some danger falling into a soft and effeminate Christianity, under the plea of a lofty and ethereal theology. Christianity was born for endurance; not an exotic, but a hardy plant, braced by the keen wind; not languid, nor childish, nor cowardly. It walks with strong step and erect frame; it is kindly, but firm; it is gentle, but honest; it is calm, but not facile; obliging, but not imbecile; decided, but not churlish. It does not fear to speak the stern word of condemnation against error, nor to raise its voice against surrounding evils, under the pretext it is not of this world; it does not shrink from giving honest reproof, lest it come under the charge of displaying an unchristian spirit. It calls sin, sin, on whomsoever it is found, and would rather risk the accusation of being actuated by a bad spirit than not discharge an explicit duty. Let us not misjudge strong words used in honest controversy. Out of the heat a viper may come forth; but we shake it off and feel no harm. The religion of both Old and New Testaments is marked by fervent outspoken testimonies against evil. To speak smooth things in such a case may be sentimentalism, but it is not Christianity. It is a betrayal of the cause of truth and righteousness. If anyone should be frank, manly, honest, cheerful, (I do not say blunt or rude, for a Christian must be courteous and polite); it is he who has tasted that the Lord is gracious, and is looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God. I know that charity covereth a multitude of sins, but it does not call evil good, because a good man has done it; it does not excuse inconsistencies, because the inconsistent brother has a high name and a fervant spirit; crookedness and worldliness are still crookedness and wordliness, though exhibited in one who seems to have reached no common height of attainment." (Horatius Bonar (1808-89)
We are living in dangerous times. Not only physically, but spiritually as well. So many speak of a “great revival” but the word of God tells us in these end times, we shall see a great falling away. How does this happen? It happens when people stop caring what is right and what is wrong. What is truth and what is a lie. When people would rather sit on a fence then stand for truth amidst opposition. The bottom line? It happens when God’s people stop judging between what is acceptable and what isn’t in the sight of God. Please open the word of God and use it as your divine standard, for there is no other.
By Diane M. Schoeppner