Pastor’s Blog 3.20.19

Should a Christian judge people? The default answer our culture would give is, “no you don’t have the right to judge others.”

If that is the case, what gives a judge in our judicial system the right to judge, or the members of a jury? People may answer, well that is different; why?

Romans 13:1-7

13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister , an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. NKJV

To make a blanket statement that we are not supposed judge is really not accurate according to scripture. Consider this following verse:

1 Corinthians 2:13-16 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. NKJV

The correct answer is “what should a Christian judge”, not should a Christian judge.

John 7:23-24 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” NKJV

So based on these truths, it is what we judge, and how we judge, that keeps us right with God and man. Jesus told us not to judge and we wouldn’t be judged. So what does this mean and what should our response be to this?

Luke 6:37 “Judge not , and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. NKJV

The contradiction is clear. Whenever we form a doctrine or belief from only one verse of scripture, we will possibly end up in error. We need to understand the Bible is a story that explains itself. I can record your conversation and take your sentences and words and reassemble them on an editor and make you say just about anything.

Don’t edit the Bible.

Read the whole story and you will have a much greater understanding of God and His ways. There are some principles in the word of God that can stand alone as irrefutable truths that are in context standing alone, but most truths need context to remain truth.

Til next week – Be blessed!