To Judge Others is an Act Inspired by the Holy Spirit

I admire the meekness of spirit that is in you, friend. Although, I can not see your heart (for it is only God who can see the heart), I can guess, if not judge, that you are a man of a lowly heart.

(Jeremiah 17:9-10) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

But a wise Christian can judge. The notion that we- must-not-judge-because-God-is-the-only-rightful-judge is not biblical. Our Lord Jesus Christ once said that:

(Matthew 7:1-5) Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

These pronouncements of the Lord Jesus (if carefully considered from context) does not mean that a Christian must not judge. He is directing these to hypocrites. Hypocrites criticize and judge others of things which they themselves have, more grievously. A beam is greater than a mote! This is the practice of false preachers.

(Romans 2:21-22) Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

It is not wrong to say “thou shall not steal” if you steal not,nor is it wrong to criticize someone who commits adultery if you are not committing adultery. If we judge somebody who continuously commits adultery, that by such act he can not enter heaven, we are not sinning against God because it is God’s judgment that we are passing to such person. In fact, it is our duty as Christians to judge those who recklessly transgress God’s law.

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

In the true Church of God, it is God’s doctrine that Christians must know how to judge rightfully among themselves.

(1 Corinthians 6:1-5, 9-10) Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 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?

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

The Apostle Paul teaches the Christians at Corinth to know how to ‘rightfully judge’ within themselves because the Corinthians have been so lenient in judging those who commits immorality and diverse transgressions, which the Apostle Paul ‘judged’ saying that these people will not inherit the kingdom of God.

(1 Corinthians 5:3) For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed.

What is prohibited by the Bible among Christians is to say evil against any brother in faith, presuming without basis that, a brother is doing evil. In such a manner, Christians are prohibited to judge.

(James 4:11-12) Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

‘Presumed evil’ can be wrong! Only God knows the whole truth about a person, so He is the only rightful judge — in such a situation; but the obvious works or deeds of a so-called brother bespeaks of the kind of heart that is in him. If a so-called brother is continuously committing sins and transgressing God’s law openly, we can judge or pass on God’s judgment to such people. Seeing somebody who openly transgresses God’s will, gives us the burden or obligation of doing something to stop such a folly.

(Leviticus 5:1) And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.

True Christian love does not rejoice in iniquities…

(1 Corinthians 13:4, 6) Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth…RSV

…nor allows it.

(Romans 1:32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

A preacher has a more serious responsibility of speaking against wrongdoings or open transgression of people, especially among his peers.

(Isaiah 58:1) Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

Crying aloud or writing a blog to show people the misdeeds, especially of pretending preachers, is a divine mandate found, both, in Old and New Testament books.

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(Titus 1:13) This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith…

I was saddened to have read the blog of Brother Timothy Kurek entitled “Confession of a Runner” when he said that it is because of ‘pride’ that he criticized the wrongdoings of some pastors and preachers. I believe it is not pride; for pride is of the world, but criticisms that come from someone who have high regards of the Divine Will is not pride, but an act of the Holy Spirit in a preacher that fears God.

(1 John 2:15-16) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

To rebuke the wrongdoings, especially of self-proclaimed preachers, is an act inspired by the Holy Spirit.

(John 16:8) And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment…

It is the Holy Spirit that inspired Paul to rebuke the hypocrites and the transgressors in his dispensation.

(Acts 13:8-10) But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

A true preacher of God does not only preach grace, love, and mercy; but also, God’s judgment — even to the extent of disputing and contending with the unbelievers.

(Acts 9:22, 29) But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ…

…And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

It is a ‘Divine Obligation’ of Christians to fight wrong teachings!

(Ephesians 6:12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

To bring down their false doctrines and teachings is a must.

(2 Corinthians 10:4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds…

God, who is the ultimate expression of love that we may know, forgives, understands, hates, and judges. He hates ungodliness and unrighteousness. He judges the reckless. That kind of love that He has, is exactly the love that He wants us Christians to have: no more, no less.

Brother Tim, if you have to follow the admonition of your preachers; and if I have to follow them also, one of the most important components of truth will be hidden.

(Matthew 23:23) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

I pray for your enlightenment.

 

Sincerely in Christ,

Brother Eliseo Soriano

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