Intro.
A. Contradiction between these two texts?
1. Luke 6:37 "Judge not and you shall not be judged".
2. John 7:24 "Judge with righteous judgment"
B. One says don't judge, the other one says judge
C. Different kinds of judgement: Luke has in mind one kind, John has in mind another kind
D. Lot of confusion today: want us to analyze bad kind of judging and good kind
E. Definition of the word: separate, choose,
1. Lots of different ways to separate and choose: Some good, some bad
F. First we'll talk about bad kind of judging, the kind Jesus has in mind in the passage in Luke
I. Bad Judging
A. Judging final destiny of others
1. Romans 14 (differences about meat, holidays, wine) principle here goes beyond that
a. Read vs. 10-12 God is final judge
2. Objection: "The Bible judges them"
a. Let the Bible do it, but don't you... Difference may seem subtle differences but very important:
b. example: someone who hasn't been baptized correctly
i. Approach #1 Tell them, "You're going to hell" (that's going to be taken as you doing the judging)
ii. Approach #2 Read verse like Acts 2:38 and ask: "Will those not baptized with Christ's baptism have remission of sins?"
iii. You might add, "I wouldn't want to meet God without having obeyed."
c. Don't forget God's clemency, mercy: Even though one is wrong, not complied with conditions, clemency sometimes extended.
i. Only God knows how far and to whom He will extend mercy and clemency
ii. He has simply told us to obey His word and that there are horrible consequencies for disobedience
iii. It is for God, not us to determine how far and to whom clemency extended
iiii. This is the "conservative" approach.
3. Jude 9: False teachers didn't have discretion
a. Attitude of presumption (blasphemy means taking place of God)
b. Did the Devil need condemnation? Of course, It wasn't Michael's place to do it!
c. If archangel Michael had reserve, discretion in pronouncing sentence on devil,
how much more we should be reserved and discrete about pronouncing sentence on our friends and brethren.
4 . I believe brethren have gotten into trouble by overlooking this principle, made themselves odious to those around about.
5. Read text? yes, Ask what consequences are of disobedience? Yes! Express concern about danger? yes! Pronounce sentence? No.
6. Another kind of dangerous judgment regarding final destiny: Judge going to heaven even when disobedient: This is the other extreme.
a. Some who criticize those who judge others going to hell, judge just as badly
b. they judge that others are going to heaven even though presumptous, disobedient, follow false doctrines, etc.
c. Example: Jesus says in Mark 16:16 "He that believeth and is bapt." etc.
i. Even so, some say about those who deny this teaching: "God is merciful, they'll be OK"
ii. Even brethren: Max Lucado: Says that he knows God will be merciful to those who deny this teaching.
d. They are just as guilty of judging as brother who judges they are going to hell!
e. This latter kind of evil judgment, going to heaven, even more dangerous than first. Makespeople they don't think it is necessary to repent:
i. Hna. Aida told me of a lady suspected she had breast cancer. Went to doctor and doctor said, "Nah, don't worry about it". She did have it. Died a year and a half later. If treated when first went to the doctor, perhaps saved.
ii. Did that doctor do her any favors by "not judging" that she had cancer? Worst thing he could have done!
f. Here is a person: somewhat sincere but wrong: Thinks he was saved when raised hand repeated prayer: talks a lot about Jesus, but thinks go through denomination How help?
i. Say "buddy, you're going to hell?" That's not for me to do! Remember Archangel Michael in Jude 9.
ii. Say, "He's sincere. God will be merciful?." Act around him like everything's fine? Call him "Brother"?
iii. If you do that he'll never leave his error, his human denomination, soul in grave danger.
iiii. What we should do! Avoid all judging of final destiny! ask for Bible study, show texts, let him see for himself danger
B. Judge motives of others: "He just does it for the money; just wants to run everything" be careful!
1. Even if you are suspicious of his motives be careful!
a. Some judged motives of Paul and others (I Cor. 4:4,5)
2. Love "believeth all things, hopes all things" (I Cor. 13:7) expects and hope best
3. Judge actions to help others, not motives. God is only one who can do that!
C. Criticize not to help but with pride to tear down:
1. Great error of Pharisees: Often right in criticism but wrong in motives
2. Matt. 23:23 Concern for externals, desire to criticize about them, but with wrong motives
3. Some today that way:
a. They say correctly, "Be careful with Lord's .Supper, Instrumental music, etc. but they are sarcastic, proud, insulting, worldly
b. They criticize denominations: but show no love, no patience
c. This spirit of Phariseism has caused lot of harm to God's people (James 4:11,12)
D. Criticize with party spirit (Luke 9:49,50)
1. Who were these doing miracles? some of the 70?
2. Were they teaching false doctrines or deceiving the people? No!
3. Why being condemned then? "We don't know them, they're not of our group."
4. This text should not be applied to lovingly teaching against error.
5. It Should be applied when brethren we don't know are criticized just because we don't know them. a. a. Someone said, "I don't know him, he must be liberal."
6. Some brethren can be very denominational in what they feel to be non denominationalism.
II. Good Judgment
A. Judge to see the truth (I Cor. 10:15,16; I Cor. 11;13)
1. We must interpret Bible: See it, analyze it, determine our way of living
a. If we love truth with all our heart, we can
b. If we want to please family, men, tradition, system, we'll miss it.
B. Judge to help brethren to work out problems (I Cor. 6:1-6) Going to court, brethren should have been able to resolve the problems.
1. Today when there are problems: There should be brethren who can call to help judge and work problem out
C. Judge Rebellious brethren (I Cor. 5; II Tes. 3:6,14,15)
1. Corinth: fornicator, the brethren in the church weren't doing anything (Read vs. 12,13)
2. Thessalonica: some were not working, not obeying Paul's letter (2 Tes. 3:6,14,15)
3. We're not talking here about brethren with weaknesses who need to grow, but rebellious brethren.
4. Must be judged, separated, chosen to help
a. Talk in love, preferably in private to convince of the importance of repentance
b. As last resort: withdrawn from by the brethren
5. It is important to judge: here we have unhealthly leaven, contaminate congregation, needs help, action necessary. This is good judgment
6. They will often complain: But if we know our motives are love, we know judgment is good
D. Judge to warn of spiritual dangers
1. Examples: Paul
a. Phil. 3:18,19; I Tim. 4; 2 Tim. 3,4, Galatians, I Corinthians
b. Was Paul judging? yes, but good judgment!
c. Alexander coppersmith (2 Tim. 4:14) Paul gossiping? judging loving
d. I Cor. 1:11 Household of Chloe gossiping? No, loving warning
2. It is not gossip to warn with love about false teachers, or brethren who cause problems if themotive is love. It is judging, but good judging, loving judging.
3. Before closing, I want to mention the importance of warning of denominationalism and apostasy among brethren
a. A sister said: "You're constantly talking about religious error"
b. I agree that sometimes it is done without love and air of superiority
c. But... Denonimantionalism is wrong: (denominationalism is claiming serve God through rel. denom.)
i. Deny conditions of salvation (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16); other man made teachings
ii. imagine plague: killing millions: a remedy is discovered but someone who is wrong thinks they have a remedy and it's not really effective.
iii. What do we do about false remedy? "quiet, don't make them upset, they're sincere?"
iiii. Loving warning would be the correct thing to do! It is judging, but it is good judging
d. Also, some do not like talk about institutionalism
i. Again agree often done with pride, arrogance
ii. Institutuionalism is dangerous: changes concept of what God's people are: from all saved individuals to an alliance of churches
iii. Second century, last century, caused millions to think salvation came through traditions, organizations of men
iiii. Love demands see danger, warn: Involves judging : that's good judging
CONCLUSION Avoid bad judging: Practice good judging
A. Two keys: Love, humility: What is done with love humility, generally good judgment
B. You going to heaven or hell? Between God and you: Jesus said in Mark 16:16 - "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved".
Back to home