What this does not say: never judge. If we look at the context here, and throughout scripture, we see that judging is appropriate. Verses 6 and 15 of this same chapter can only take place if we judge. Our society has taken this to an unhealthy extreme. We say that everybody is right, that there are no absolutes, therefore your opinion is as good as mine. The problem with that is both of our opinions are useless, but God’s Word is right.
We must judge, but we must do it with God’s perspective v2
If it isn’t saying we can’t judge, then what is it saying?
2. Judge others. V5
We need to make sure we are following Christ, but we are also responsible to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are the body of Christ and we are accountable to one another. (See 1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
This is why church membership is so important. God has called us to work together to join together. Church membership tells others that you want to be held to the Word of God. It says you have made a commitment to God and to His people. It says that you admit that you belong to one another.
In God’s plan, He uses people to help other people grow. If we don’t commit to one another, then we are not allowing other people into our lives to grow with.
Let me give you a couple of key steps in judging others.
1st. It must be based on a Love for God.
This cuts back to the first point of judging yourself. You need to get your heart right with God, before you ever try to get somebody else’s heart right with God. Everything you do as a Christian needs to come from your love for God. Speck/log
Colossians 3:23 “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”
We need to make sure our hearts and our lives are right before God. We need to make sure our thoughts and our actions are right before God. We need to make sure we are “Seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” in our own life, before we try to interfere (help) in someone else’s.
2nd. We need to have a love for God’s people.
Galatians 6:1-2 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
This is another example of the need to be connected with other Christians, so you can restore them, and so they can restore you. If we are not connected with others, they won’t know when something is wrong, because they won’t know you.
Sure the outward sins will be evident, but not all spiritual problems are noticeable to the general public. But when we get close to others, we reveal ourselves to them. We get to know one another’s strengths and weaknesses and we can help. We can bear one another’s burdens.
We are doing a disservice when we allow Christians to remain secluded from others. They are not going to grow, without being connected to the body.
We need to love God’s people. Not just when there is a problem. If the only time you want to love them is when you want to confront sin, then don’t bother. You don’t love them. But if you want to get to know them, if you want to work together with them for the kingdom. If you are eating together and playing together and working together, then when there is a problem, you will have the right to judge it. Because you will be judging based on your love for God and your love for the person.
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