Are we to judge?

By Sidharth Mohandas

Judging others

As I studied the Scripture I came to realize that there some 6 Scriptures telling us not to judge others while there are about the same number of Scriptures telling us that we are to judge or instances where judgment was passed.

Here are verses that tell us that we are not to judge: Matthew 7:1-5, Romans 2:1-3, Romans 14:1-4, 10-13, 1 Corinthians 4:1-4, and James 4:11-12

And here are verses that tell us where judgment is required: 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, 1 Corinthians 5:11-13, 1 Corinthians 6:1-4,6-7, Matthew 18:15-17

In this study I will only deal with one area where we are asked to judge in God’s Word. There are some more areas which I will post later on.

From my study I came to realize, judgment and ruling go hand-in-hand. In a Kingdom, the judgment is not by the Supreme Court but it is in the hands of the one who rules over the Kingdom. Here’s a principle that will make it clear: Where we have responsibility to rule, we have the authority to judge. On the converse, where we do not have responsibility to rule, we do not have the authority to judge. For example: Parents have the divine responsibility to rule over their children, and with this responsibility to rule, they are also given the authority to punish their kids when they are on the wrong. However, it would be wrong for these parents to go and judge their neighbors’ children.

Let me show you how Paul brings this statement out: What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” [1 Corinthians 5:12-13]

The context of this passage is that Paul is writing in response to a report he heard of sexual immorality within the church. [1 Corinthians 5:1-2], In verse 3, he says that he has passed judgment on the one who did this. But notice, he did not judge him individually, he judged him corporately with the church backing him.

He says, When you [plural] are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. [1 Corinthians 5:4-5]

The judgment passed here is a very severe one. To be handed over to Satan does not mean they literally handed this person over to Satan. Paul himself explains how this is done… it is by withdrawing the cover of protection and fellowship of the Church. You can imagine it this way, a person who is secure in the covering of the Church is like a person protected in a Kingdom. But once the Kingdom throws out this person, the protection is withdrawn and now the opponent Kingdom can attack him. But notice this is a judgment on a person who claimed to be a believer but refused to repent from his sinful ways. If we had to withdraw from everyone who committed sinful deeds, we would have to isolate ourselves from this world!

God’s Judgment

The topic of Eternal Judgment is rarely spoken of in contemporary churches, yet it is one among the 6 foundational doctrines mentioned in Hebrews 6:1-2. I personally can testify that whenever I study on the topic of judgment, I am brought to an awareness of accountability and it makes me evaluate myself in the light of God’s Word.

Judgment is often thought of in the negative, but God sees it primarily in the positive sense. God wants to judge us so that He can praise us for what we have done for Him.

Then each person will receive praise from God. [1 Corinthians 4:5b]

Judgment for the things we did not do for Him or the wrong we did is secondary in God’s judgment. I was examining how God judged the seven churches in the book of Revelations and I found that in each of them He first commends them for their faithfulness and their service [with an exception of the church at Laodicea, which is outside the scope of our study].

The second point I’d like to make under this heading is that God’s primary purpose for judgment is not to punish the wicked, but to protect the righteous. A judicial system that is just concerned with punishing wickedness is not a just system according to God’s Word.

How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; free them from the hand of the wicked. [Psalm 82:2-4]

Punishing the wicked is secondary, the primary purpose I say again is to protect the righteous and the innocent.

[To be continued later...]

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