Judging

We tend to make universal statements regarding judging. Scripture makes particular distinctions. There are distinctions in who or what is judged, there are distinctions in the ways to judge and not to judge. The popular mantra of today is “Do not judge” and it is causing the waywardness and weakness within the church.

The heart of the misunderstanding of judging is due to the carelessness with which Christians consider their words and the truth of scripture. Definitions slide around to suit our needs and then the truth is soon corrupted. It seems almost an universal reaction to define judging as condemning, and that is an aspect of it. But judging is more than that. Judging is essential to the health of His body. But we must judge a righteous judgment. Maybe it is because righteousness has become such a loose word today, that it would be natural for judging to follow suit.

This is another big area where Humanism has succeeded in changing the focus and intent of words. While it is true that judging can carry the connotations of “condemnation”, it is not the major use. In obscuring or ignoring the most common definition, Humanism has convinced us to define all instances of judging as meaning condemnation and thus reject it.  Judging is a very positive and righteous word and defines God.

2919 κρίνω krino kree’-no
perhaps a primitive word; v; TDNT-3:921,469; {See TDNT 412 }

AV-judge 88, determine 7, condemn 5, go to law 2, call in question 2, esteem 2, misc 8; 114

• 1) to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose
• 2) to approve, esteem, to prefer
• 3) to be of opinion, deem, think, to be of opinion
• 4) to determine, resolve, decree
• 5) to judge
  • 5a) to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong
    • 5a1) to be judged, i.e. summoned to trial that one’s case may be examined and judgment passed upon it
  • 5b) to pronounce judgment, to subject to censure
    • 5b1) of those who act the part of judges or arbiters in matters of common life, or pass judgment on the deeds and words of others
• 6) to rule, govern
  • 6a) to preside over with the power of giving judicial decisions, because it was the prerogative of kings and rulers to pass judgment
• 7) to contend together, of warriors and combatants
  • 7a) to dispute
  • 7b) in a forensic sense

From those definitions regarding the word “judge” we can see that we need to take a wider view than the narrow one that Humanism has foisted upon us in order to get us to obey and judge.

Judging in scripture is, first of all objective and based on facts, never on opinions or hearsay. It is evaluating for the purpose of arriving at a conclusion and acting on it. God never judges without acting on it. Some of those things that are evaluated are worthy of condemnation, some of censure, some of praise. Without judging, truth has no weapon against error, we cannot separate the precious from the vile, or better from best. In taking away proper judging from the church, satan through his tool of Humanism has caused confusion and iniquity to prevail.

Without judging we can not separate the precious from the vile.

The following is only one example where saints are berated for not judging.

“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints [for judgment] ? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?” (I Cor. 6:1-5)

The danger of not judging and the severe consequences of not having judged

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. …1 Corinthians 5:1-13 ESV

The solution to the problem could only begin once it was judged and acted upon.

“For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”  I Corinthians 11:30-31:

We Are Required to Judge

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man  1Cor 2:15

God is not confused. If you are spiritual you willl judge. This verse seems to indicate that we can not be spiritual unless we also judge. Is this the cause for the lack of spirituality in Christianity today? Why is it that the first words that come from the mouth of those dealing with sin or broken relationships are most usually: “We are not here to judge”. If that is true, then there is no reason or purpose for dealing with any concern in the body of Christ. Rather, let them declare, “we are hear to declare a righteous judgment so that truth prevails and all can be restored and be right with God.”

Scripture clearly states that we MUST judge and a principle characteristic of God is as Judge. We, as saints who represent Him, must also represent Him as judge.

How can anyone obey the following without judging?

• Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down  Matthew 7:15-20 ESV

  • This is another example of the danger of not judging. Judging is meant to be a healthy process by where the false and dangerous is exposed and eradicated. We are to judge fruits so that we can restore or separate from the one displaying false fruits.

Even in the old testament, God has called His people to judge.

• And you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Then declare to her all her abominations. Ezekiel 22:2 ESV “
  • When God tells us to judge, it is so we will declare truth to the judged one.

• “The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.” (Psa. 37:30)

  A righteous person will talk of judgment. He will not REFUSE to judge. He will talk judgment.

• “Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgmentin the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.” (Amos 5:14-15)

How can one hate the evil and love the good if they refuse to judge? They can’t. One is SINNING when refusing to judge. His saints are meant to “establish judgment in the gate” but today’s church teaches against that for the everyday saint in everyday practice. It is any wonder why wickedness and man’s ways prevail in the church?

It is with good reason that God tells us to test/prove all things and prove that which is true (1Th 5:21 1Co 14:29). It is a command He gave to the church, I would expect that He expects the saints to do that.

Our generation is well described in Isaiah 59:8:

• “The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.”

People have refused to judge, so there is no peace. The ways of Christianity have become crooked. The saints of Christianity have become without judgement and walking crooked paths.

Paul said in I Corinthians 1:10 to “. . . be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

Was Paul mistaken and did not know that judging is wrong?

It seems that he did not follow the god of nice.

• Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. …

  • Judgment is for the purpose of restoration. Judges are not transgression “hunters” nor are they looking to find fault, but rather what is good. When the transgression become known to them, either by discernment of the Holy Spirit, or by natural revelation, they set about on a path of restoration. And if restoration can not be achieved, then separation.
• We would not know any sinned unless we judged the actions against the Spirit. Gentleness is usually always to be the first step, but we must not make a rule of it. Gentleness was used in the case of Ananias and Sapphira, but judgment quickly followed and was not gentle.
• Ps 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: 18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

We have been as the voice of satan speaking scriptures to Jesus in the wilderness, but unlike satan, have refused to hear Jesus’ scriptural answer which trumps our scriptural challenge. We, like satan, find scriptures that can be twisted to please ourselves, Jesus uses scriptures that are foundational and are the word for the season. We use scriptures that do not carry the voice of God, that God is not speaking, and to further our own agendas and doctrines. They are not words spoken in due season. God will not lend His life to scriptures that are twisted to steal and destroy.

• Isa 1:23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
  • Judge without consideration of reward. Judge because it is a right and needed thing and it protects the innocent and needy.
• Jer 5:28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
• 1Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
• 1Co 10:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

I am sure that many are now thinking of the “do not judge” scriptures. They are merely telling us how and when NOT to judge. We will now take up that discussion shortly.

How to Judge and not to Judge

• John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

  • All the “judge not” verses exist because men are judging according to appearances and not a righteous judgment. They are judging out of wrong motives of the heart (even though they may be mixed with a zeal for truth.)

  • there is only One who can judge a righteous judgement, and that is God. It is only those who can hear His voice who can hear His righteous judgment on any matter.

• 2Ch 19:6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.

  • We are to seek God’s mind when we judge and see things from His perspective.

  • It is the Holy Spirit Who is given to us to lead us into all truth about all matters.

• 1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgethaccording to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

  • Keep personal feelings and all notion of reputation out of it.

• Leviticus 19:15 ESV “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.

  • In former days it seems that partiality was shown to the great, now the tendency is toward the poor. Both are improper and prevent the hearing from God.

    • My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? James 2:1-5 ESV

      • There is now an overriding tendency to show partiality toward Humanistic niceness in all judging. The tendency is toward partiality of a person’s feelings over truth and a right walk.

• But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.  1Sa 16:7

• Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?  Lu 12:57

  • Judgment is based on what is right in God’s eyes

• All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.  Pr 16:2

  • And we must weight the spirits by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit
• Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.  Proverbs 31:9 ESV
• Ps 96:13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
  • He judges in righteousness and truth. He spares not for tears or emotions or compassion. His compassion is found in His offer of grace through Christ. He has no other provision for sparing any.
• Judging the acts (lifestyle), not the person. (example)
  • For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.  Titus 1:7-11
    • This judging is done to qualify or disqualify a person from leadership responsibilities.
  • And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?  1Co 3:1

    • Paul judged and said that they were not spiritual but carnal. I am sure that some feelings were hurt because he spoke the truth meant to turn them to truth.

The purpose for judging doctrine— is to arrive at the truth and to dispel error so as to walk in truth. The purpose for judging people— is to set them free and find ways to set them free. The purpose for judging actions— is to encourage or to warn of danger and to turn them to God’s ways.

We cannot judge the hearts and motives, but we can help the person submit their hearts to God for examination.

• 2Co 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so arewe Christ’s  2Co 10:7

  • The thing that most wrong judging has in common is judging by outward appearances. Once outward appearances come into the picture, you can almost be sure that the person is making and unrighteous judgment.

  • Can we even trust that we are in Christ if we have not judged ourselves against the truth?

•  So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.  James 2:12-13 ESV
  • Liberty is the objective of all God’s judging and is to be the saint’s objective.
  • We judge according to God’s mercy, but the benefit of His mercy is based on repentance.
• Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.  2 Timothy 4:2 ESV
  • It is impossible to reprove, rebuke, and exhort without judging what needs to be reproved, rebuked, and exhorted. Now reproving, rebuking, and exhorting are banned from popular Christianity in favor of niceness.
• There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?  James 4:12 ESV
  • It is always God that must do the judging. We as saints have the charge to hear His voice and declare His judgments.
• ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.  Revelation 2:2 ESV
  • Jesus was commending them for their righteous judgments against error.

• If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Matthew 18:15-17 ESV
  • There is no one who who has been sinned against and takes this action who has not judged the fact that he has been sinned against. The objective of such a one is not to secure repentance for his sake, but for the sake of the sinning one to be restored to God.
• Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,  2 Corinthians 6:17 ESV
  • we must judge what an unclean thing is and go from amongst those who hold those beliefs and will not repent.
• Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.  1 John 4:1 ESV
  • If we do not test them, we will fall prey to them. They are out there and pretending they are not or ignoring them does not change the truth about their danger.

Some specific things we are not to judge

•  As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.  Romans 14:1-5 ESV
  • These are the things of outward appearances. They have nothing to do with sin – though many have made them to be so.
• Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:  Col 2:16
• Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?  Col 2:20-22
  • There are men who love to make rules about outward appearances and things that God does not mention as sin. See also Col 2:16
    • For example, modesty is commanded in the scriptures. Unfortunately, men do not leave it alone. They add rules and define what modesty is for everyone. Those who violate their rules are an anathema to them, but not necessarily to God. We must be very careful to not be like the Pharisees who read the law and then made up rules to determine what it meant: Like keeping the Sabbath the not going more than so many steps from your house. Jesus condemned their man made additions to His commandments and He does the same to ours.

The “Judge Not” scriptures

In each instance where we are commanded to “judge not” the example is given of someone who is not judging for the right motives. We are commanded to judge and commanded not to judge with the wrong motives or heart.

• Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2: “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again  Mt 7:1-2
  • Since we will all be judged, we must judge as God does. God judges us as sinners and offers us redemption. He does not threaten us with condemnation, but with hope and escape from our bondage.
  • This is what John MacArthur says about this passage
    • “It should be noted that this passage has erroneously been used to suggest that believers should never evaluate or criticize anyone for anything. Our day hates absolutes, especially theological and moral absolutes, and such simplistic interpretation provides a convenient escape from confrontation. Members of modern society including many professing Christians, tend to resist dogmatism and strong convictions about right and wrong. Many people prefer to speak of all-inclusive love, compromise, ecumenism, and unity. To the modern religious person those are the only “doctrines” worth defending, and they are the doctrines to which every conflicting doctrine must be sacrificed.”
      MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The – MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 1-7

John MacArthur’s comments are good examples of what the other “Do not Judge” scriptures are about. He also pinpoints where and how the wicked one has perverted and immobilized truth. Yet, so many will fight to hold their view of “do not judge”.

• Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:  Lu 6:37
  • These are examples of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” He is speaking of judging and condemning wrongly.

The question then becomes for us “do we want to walk in truth and the light and be rid of those things that keep us from being fully devoted to Him? Do you want your darkness exposed for eradication or to remain hidden and so, be victimized by it?

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest : for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?  Ro 2:1

The judging person spoken of here is not trying to judge a righteous judgment. This man is guilty of the same sins he accuses others of. He lives in hypocrisy and accusations and judgments are made to divert attention from himself to another..

It is when we have not judged ourselves first that we fall into the error mentioned here,  Even when we make a righteous judgment we will be judged by the same standards by which we judge. Those standards are in effect whether we judge others or not. It is obvious that those spoken of in these verses are not trying to judge a righteous judgment.

The judgment we are to make of ourselves is whether we walk by faith or sight, but the Spirit or by the flesh. If those things pass the test, then we need not try to find fault with ourselves.

That verse has a context that demonstrates that it is a contrast between the type of judgment God makes and the type of judgment man usually makes. It is the judgment that man makes aside from God that He speaks to in Verse 1.

• But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.  Ro 2:2
  • The next few verses describe the type of persons doing the judging. That type of person should not judge. Only those committed to truth and the liberty of an individual should be judges. Romans 2:3 and following?
  • God does judge such judges, and it is a fearful thing

• But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.  1Co 4:3

Paul is the one who wrote Romans, and here gives a picture of how Rom 2:1-2 relates to his personal walk.

Paul was not obsessed with examining himself. Rather, I believe he entrusted that to the Lord.

• Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.  Ps 26:2

His focus was on being obedient to his calling. He was aware of man’s judgments and thought little of them.

Saints today are often told to keep looking for the mote in their own eyes (and are we to ignore the motes that God brings to our attention), but New Testament scripture is against such introspection. We are not to focus on our flesh and who were are in the flesh, but we are to focus on who we are in Christ and His provision for our victories over the world, the flesh, the devil.

We have become very loose in our use of words. The cry of today’s church is “Do not judge”, the cry and demand of God is “Judge a righteous judgment”. The church’s attitude should not be, we are not here to judge, but rather, we are here not to condemn but to judge a righteous judgment and liberate, not bring into bondage. We must abandon the ways of Humanism and the god of nice.

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.  1Co 4:5

RESISTING THE REPROOF OF LIFE