CHRIST'S EXAMPLE
Let us begin by examining some of Christ's own words on the subject
of exercising judgment.
Let us note how Christ, the perfect Judge, is described prophetically:
The apostle Paul specifically tells Christians that they are to
make worthy judgments within the household of God:
Paul then gives us an example of such a judgment made by him,
and enjoined upon the Church:
Notice his description of one who is led by the Spirit:
JUDGING OURSELVES
It is the nature of human beings to maintain that we are judging
righteously when we are only finding fault in others in areas
where we ourselves fall short; we can cover up our own sin and
feel less culpable by seeking to expose the same fault in others
around us. This was the apostle Paul's charge against the Jews:
they sought to cover up their own guilt by condemning the Gentiles
for their immoral lives while they themselves were guilty on the
same charge while claiming an exemption on the basis of being
the recipients of God's special revelation:
Self-righteousness can lead to an attitude where, in making a
judgment on disputable questions, the "sinning" brother
or sister is despised along with the purported sin. This type
of spiritually-insignificant judgment is contemptible, as a stumbling-block
is put before those weaker in the faith:
MERCIFUL judgment
We likewise need to be able to correctly discern the fruits of
repentance, for God's judgment is with the aim of repentance,
as the apostle Paul intimated in the verses of Romans 2, which
we previously read:
Let us pause to look at some examples of the evil fruit of the
flesh on the basis of which severe judgment was made.
So, what aspects of judgment are disallowed for the Christian?
THE PREROGATIVE OF GOD
The one Lawgiver is also the Judge who will determine whether
we stand or fall
Many who claim to follow Jesus Christ maintain that since Christ
said that He did not come to judge the world but rather to save
it, Christians today are similarly not empowered to make judgments
of any great magnitude. Is this the biblical teaching? What
sort of judgments do Christians make and what criteria are used
in making them?
Christ did indeed utter these words:
Jn 12:47 "And if anyone hears My words and does not
believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world
but to save the world."
That He had God-given authority to exercise judgment even while
on the earth is, however, also the testimony of Scripture:
Jn 5:27 "and [God] has given Him [Christ] authority
to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man."
Yet notice what He said to the Pharisees in Jn 8:15:
Jn 8:15-16 "You judge according to the flesh; I judge
no one. 16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I
am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me."
Christ did not mean that He did not judge at all during His earthly
ministry, for verse 16 tells us otherwise, rather that He would
never judge in the carnal manner that the Pharisees and others
did. Instead, His judgments were true. Indeed, He did make
and will again make many more judgments, even in respect to those
to whom He bore witness during His ministry:
Jn 8:26 "I have many things to say and to judge concerning
you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those
things which I heard from Him."
Christ qualified His statement in Jn 12:47 about not
having come to judge the world, but to save it:
Jn 12:48 "He who rejects Me, and does not receive
My words, has that which judges him; the word that I have spoken
will judge him in the last day."
Christ came, not expressly to judge, but to open the door of salvation
by offering His life for the world according to the foreordained
Plan of God. Yet during His sojourn on earth, as He dwelt among
and interacted with men and women, judgment was still rendered
according to the righteous Words of God, be it upon His disciples,
the disbelieving Jews, the unresponsive cities of Capernaum (Mt
11:23) Chorazin or Bethsaida (Lk 10:13), or Satan the Devil (Jn
16:11).
Christ judged according to the righteous Words and will of His
Father. We should do likewise:
Jn 5:30 "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I
judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My
own will but the will of the Father who sent Me."
CHRISTIANS ARE TO JUDGE
However, in this valueless age, people are more and more reluctant
and seemingly unable to set moral standards and to make moral
judgments. This can affect the people of God also.
Isa 16:5 In mercy the throne will be established; and
One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging
and seeking justice and hastening righteousness."
Mercy, truth, justice, righteousness are mentioned as integral
to the judging of Jesus Christ. They should likewise be paramount
in our judgments. Let us therefore consider how these same ingredients
are to be incorporated in the exercise of godly judgment.
Christ Himself told the crowds at the Feast of Tabernacles to
make right judgments, in this instance in regard to Sabbath-keeping:
Jn 7:24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but
judge with righteous judgment."
And, on another occasion:
Lk 12:57 "Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you
not judge what is right?"
The judgments we make must be right-righteous-judgments.
1Co 5:12 For what have I to do with judging those also
who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?
In comparison to our future role in judging the world, and angels,
judgments about things in this life would seem insignificant.
Yet we are to judge.
1Co 6:2-5 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? 3 Do you not know that we shall
judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?
4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to
this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the
church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there
is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to
judge between his brethren?
1Co 5:11 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.
We may want to consider the diverse principles Paul no doubt applied
in making such a judgment. For instance, what sort of a testimony
would an outsider be afforded if such behaviour were to continue
unchecked?
1Co 2:15 But he who is spiritual judges [the Greek
means "examines well, searches out, sifts"] all
things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one [who is
unspiritual].
We may well ask ourselves, "Why this mandate to exercise
correct judgment?" In short, we owe it to each other to
exercise godly judgment towards one another in the Church of
God. To fail to do so is to be derelict in our responsibility
to one another:
Lev 19:15,17 'You shall do no injustice in judgment. You
shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the
mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.
As we go on to consider what manner of judgment is required of
the saints of God, we find that biblical guidelines for making
judgments are set out for us in the Word of God.
17 You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely
rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.'
All judgment begins with ourselves; if we cannot judge ourselves
correctly, how can we hope to judge others?
1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves [and not
just during the Passover season!], we would not be judged
[and we will be far less likely to pass ungodly judgment upon
others!]
As Christians, we are both under judgment and called upon to
exercise self-judgment:
1Pe 4:17 For the time has come for judgment [self-examination
as well as God's judgment] to begin at the house of God;
and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those
who do not obey the gospel of God?
Absence of self-judgment necessitates divine judgment:
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged [because we are negligent
in judging ourselves], we are chastened by the Lord [which
is not pleasant], that we may not be condemned with the world.
The guidelines for testing for good or for evil should begin with
us:
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves [look into your own heart]
as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves [judge
your motives]. Do you not know yourselves [do we?],
that Jesus Christ is in you?; unless indeed you are disqualified.
If we judge ourselves correctly we can, like the apostle Paul,
have a relatively clear conscience before God, who alone can pass
the ultimate judgment:
Gal 6:3-4 For if anyone thinks himself to be something,
when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine
[Gk: "test, try, approve"] his own work, and
then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Ro 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone
who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he
ought to think, but to think soberly [use wisdom and discernment],
as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
1Co 4:4 For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not
justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.
AVOIDING ERROR AND SIN
Let us next consider the all-encompassing admonition given to
us all in the Book of First Thessalonians:
1Th 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.
How can we do this unless we make judgments on what is good and
what is evil?
Indeed, Paul upholds this very point, applying it especially to
what we are taught:
1Th 5:21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
We must constantly make judgments as to what is right or wrong,
good or evil, especially in regard to what is taught to us. Everything
must be put to the test:
1Co 14:29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the
others judge [the scriptural veracity, the merit, of what is
said].
The Scriptures enjoin us to continually-habitually-exercise our
powers of discernment to enable us to avoid evil and sin:
1Co 14:29 (NIV) Two or three prophets should speak, and
the others should weigh carefully what is said.
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test
the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets
have gone out into the world.
Heb 5:14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full
age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised
to discern both good and evil.
That is, in the mature Christian, mental habits have been established
through the constant exercise of the mind to judge-to distinguish-between
good and evil.
The Church in Ephesus was commended for having done just this:
Rev 2:2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience,
and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested
those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them
liars."
HYPOCRITICAL judgment
Christian judgment can be nullified by the presence of ungodly
criteria. We can be right but still be wrong if we would pass
judgment hypocritically or self-righteously:
Mt 7:1-5 "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For
with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the
measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do
you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider
the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother,
'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is
in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your
own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from
your brother's eye."
Christ is here not saying that we must not judge, but that we
must not judge deceitfully. If our vision is impaired because
of personal sin and yet we behave as though we can see perfectly
and therefore judge correctly we are condemned because the same
standard of judgment will fall upon us and we will be found wanting.
We cannot see well enough to remove the speck in our brother's
eye until we have dealt with our own sin that impairs our judgment
of another person.
Ro 2:1-4 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever
you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn
yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we
know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those
who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you
who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that
you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the
riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing
that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Unlike the Jews, we must be careful not to assume that knowledge
justifies willful ignoring of the law of God. When we pass judgment,
it must be as God judges, in truth (v2).
Ro 14:3,10,13 Let not him who eats despise him who does
not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats [the
issues are mundane, and not really that important]; for God
has received him.
This was the attitude of the self-righteous Pharisees which Christ
so roundly condemned:
10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt
[this type of judging produces contempt] for your brother?
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather
resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall
in our brother's way.
Lk 18:9-11 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted
in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10
Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the
other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus
with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men;
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector'.
Godly judgment entails us first looking at ourselves for evidence
of self-righteousness or similar problems and seeing our own potential
for sin and error. Then we will be much more considerate when
judging someone else:
Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass,
you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness,
considering yourself [discerning your own proclivities to do
similar evil] lest you also be tempted.
God's judgments are always just because He is blameless in judging.
No reproach, no accusations of self-righteousness or hypocrisy,
can ever fall back upon Him. There is never any regret in how
He dispenses judgment:
Ps 51:4 (NIV) Against you, you only, have I sinned and
done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right
when you speak and justified [or innocent or blameless]
when you judge.
Paul re-echoed these words of David in his epistle to the Romans:
Ro 3:4 (NIV) Not at all! Let God be true, and every man
a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right
when you speak and prevail when you judge."
As Christians we too must therefore judge righteously with pure
motives and be blameless in the judgments we make.
One who seeks to judge righteously will always bear in mind his
inadequacy before the perfect law of God and so will always include
a preparedness to extend mercy:
Jas 2:10-13 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and
yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who
said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do
not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do
murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.12 So speak
and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty [which
will judge the heart and motives of each man]. 13 For judgment
is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs
over judgment [but not at the expense of God's judgment and
justice].
The injunction is that we be just as merciful when judging as
God is merciful in His judgments (Lk 6:36)-to the same degree,
no more, no less.
Without this component of mercy, appropriately dispensed, we cannot
hope to be granted mercy by God:
Mt 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain
mercy.
ACCORDING TO FRUITS
The standard for Christian judgment are the fruits produced in
a person's life:
Mt 7:15-20 "Beware of false prophets, who come to
you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from
thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree
bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree
cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
The onus is upon each one of us to correctly discern these fruits.
Ro 2:3-4 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those
practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape
the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness,
forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness
of God [when dealing with sinners; God gives all an opportunity
to repent (2Pe 3:9)] leads you to repentance?
Likewise, our judgment should be in hope and anticipation of
the fruits of repentance. This has been the call of all of the
servants of God, as exemplified by the words of John the Baptist
to those who came to hear him:
Mt 3:8 "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance".
Let us notice this in action in an example of Christ judging:
Jn 8:2-11 Now early in the morning He came again into
the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and
taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him
a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst,
4 they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery,
in the very act. 5 "Now Moses, in the law, commanded us
that such should be stoned. But what do You say?" 6 This
they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which
to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground
with His finger, as though He did not hear. 7 So when they continued
asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who
is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first."
8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then
those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went
out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And
Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10
When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman,
He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours?
Has no one condemned you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord."
And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and
sin no more."
Are not the woman's humble words-"Lord"- in response
to Christ's question evidence of a repentant heart-or do we believe
that Christ condoned an impenitent attitude? It is quite obvious
that He made a judgment on the basis of the good fruits He saw.
These fruits of repentance are demonstrated by a person's deeds,
so we will always have a standard by which to judge:
Acts 26:20 (NIV) First to those in Damascus, then to those
in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached
that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance
by their deeds.
The claim that since we can never really know the heart we must
not render powerful judgment is a nonsense; there is no injunction
in the Scriptures to suspend godly judgment because we are limited
in this manner. The Word of God judges the intents and motivation
of the heart; if an individual is not being led by the Word of
God the bad fruits will, in time, be evident for censure.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division
of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner
of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Sometimes this type of judgment can be quite severe, but it is
always carried out, as has been mentioned, with the hope of repentance
and a preparedness to extend mercy:
1Co 5:3-5 For I indeed, as absent in body but present
in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him
who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the
power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan
for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved
in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Paul, in acting in accordance with the prescription given by Christ
to deal with unrepentant sin (Mt 18:15-17), realised that only
God could save the spirit through repentance and change; yet this
would have to be brought about by exposing the sinner to the buffeting
of the Devil out in the world.
2Pe 2:1,3, 12-14, 17,21 But there were also false prophets
among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you,
who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying
the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
Finally, notice what Jude was led to conclude about such individuals:
3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words;
for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction
does not slumber.
12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and
destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and
will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive
the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to
carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing
in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having
eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing
unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices,
and are accursed children.
17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest,
for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the
way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy
commandment delivered to them.
Jude 4,12-13 For certain men have crept in unnoticed,
who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men,
who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only
Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with
you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without
water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit,
twice dead, pulled up by the roots; 13 raging waves of the sea,
foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved
the blackness of darkness forever.
19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having
the Spirit.
How many people today would be inclined to label such an assessment
as passing final judgment? Did Jude know the hearts of these
individuals or was he making a judgment on the basis of the fruits
of their lives? Christ said that the mouth speaks out of the
abundance of the heart (Mt 12:34) and that the heart is the source
of all the evil fruits of the flesh that cause defilement (Mt
15:18-20). Continued unchecked, these actions would lead to destruction.
On that basis, and according to the correct prerequisites of Christian
discipline, these judgments were made by Jude, and the Church
forewarned.
This is not to say that we make habitual, hasty judgments about
the indwelling or otherwise of the Spirit of God. The point, rather,
is that a Christian should be able to assess the fruit of God's
Spirit in an individual's life, as well as the works of the flesh.
However, it is not for us to pass sentence. God alone imposes
this, as we shall see.
In making judgment, we must ensure that we never impinge upon
God's prerogative to judge whether one stands or falls. Condemnation-or
for that matter, acquittal-is the responsibility and right of
God alone:
Lk 6:37 "Judge not [incorrectly], and you
shall not be judged [by the same standard]. Condemn not
[do not pronounce anyone guilty] , and you shall not be
condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
As we know, the inner recesses of the hearts of men can only be
truly judged by God.
Ro 14:4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his
own master he [ultimately] stands or falls. Indeed, he
will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
Ro 2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of
men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
So only God can give correct weighting to every thought and deed
of man, both good and evil:
Ecc 12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment,
including every secret thing, whether good or evil.
This type of judgment-the passing of sentence-by the saints is
reserved for a time when we will indeed know the hearts of all
men:
1Co 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time [the
time of judgment, of condemnation and of acquittal], until
the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things
of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's
praise will come from God.
The Greek translated "judge nothing" can also be rendered
as "stop pronouncing judgment". That is, stop pronouncing
this type of judgment-one that involves an assessment
of the counsel of the heart.
Jas 4:11-12 Do not speak evil of [or slander] one another,
brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother,
speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the
law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one
Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy [to acquit or
to condemn]. Who are you to judge another?
We slander a brother in this way by presuming to be able to pronounce
judgment on him.
Jas 5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren,
lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
CONCLUSION
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and
judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those
who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word
of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had
not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And
they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Brethren, we have been called to reign over this earth with Jesus
Christ and to judge it just as He will. God calls upon us now
to practice this exercise of judgment on a smaller scale, within
the Church. Let us ensure that we are not derelict in this responsibility,
but that we are learning here and now, as the apostle Paul put
it, to discern between good and evil by making righteous judgments.
