on line
Tracts and Literature
To Help You Reach the Lost, Grow In Christ, and Sound a Faithful Warning
©Fundamental Evangelistic Association
Is It Right to Judge?
-by Franklin C. Huling, MA
©Fundamental Evangelistic Association
THIS QUESTION- "IS IT RIGHT TO
JUDGE?" is one that puzzles many sincere Christians. A careful and open
minded study of the Bible makes it clear that concerning certain vital matters, it is not
only right but a positive duty to judge. Many do not know that the Scripture commands us
to judge. The Lord Jesus Christ commanded, "Judge righteous judgment" (John
7:24). He told a man, "Thou hast rightly judged" (Luke 7:43). To others, our
Lord asked, "Why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?" (Luke 12:57).
The Apostle Paul wrote, "I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say"
(1 Corinthians 10:15). Again, Paul declared, "He that is spiritual judgeth all
things" (1 Corinthians 2:15). It is our positive duty to judge.
False Teachers and False Teaching
"Beware of false prophets!" (Matthew 7:15) is the warning and command
of our Lord. But how could we "beware" and how could we know they are
"false prophets" if we did not judge? And what is the God given standard by
which we are to judge? " To the Law and to the Testimony: if they speak not
according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah
8:20). "Ye shall know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:16), Christ said.
And in judging the "fruits," we must judge by God's Word, not by what appeals to
human reasoning. Many things seem good to human judgment which are false to the Word of
God.
The Apostle Paul admonished believers, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them
which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and
avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly;
and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" (Romans
16:17-18). This apostolic command could not be obeyed were it not right to judge. God
wants us to know His Word and then test all teachers and teaching by it. Notice also that
it is the false teachers who make the "divisions," and not those who protest
against their false teaching. And these deceivers are not serving Christ, as they profess,
"but their own belly," or their own "bread and butter," as we would
put it. We are to "mark them and avoid them."
"Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord" (2
Corinthians 6:17, read verses 14-18). and "From such turn away." (2
Timothy 3:5). "Withdraw yourselves" (2 Thessalonians 3:6). "And
have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them " (Ephesians
5:1 1). "Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good" (Romans
12:9). "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thessalonians
5:21). It would be impossible to obey these injunctions of God's Word unless it were right
to judge! And remember, nothing is "good" in God's sight that is not true to His
Word.
The Apostle John wrote, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try [test,
judge] the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into
the world " ( 1 John 4:1 ) . Again he wrote, "For many deceivers are
entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.... If
there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house,
neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil
deeds" (2 John 7,10-11). This Scripture commands us to judge between those who
do, and those who do not bring the true doctrine of Christ.
Whenever a child of God contributes to a denominational budget that supports Modernist
(liberal, compromising) missionaries or teachers, he is guilty before God, according to
this Scripture, of bidding them, "God speed " in the most effective way
possible. And he thereby becomes a "partaker" with them of their "evil
deeds" of spreading soul damning poison. How terrible, but how true! Arouse yourself,
child of God. If you are guilty, ask God to forgive you and help you never again to be
guilty of the blood of souls for whom Christ died. When we are willing to suffer for
Christ, we can readily see the truth of God's Word on this tremendously important matter. "If
we suffer, we shall also reign with Him" (2 Timothy 2:12) .
Misunderstood and Misused Scripture
One of the best known and most misunderstood and misapplied Scriptures is "Judge
not" (Matthew 7:1). Let us examine the entire passage:
"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" (Matthew 7:1-5).
Read this again carefully. Notice that it is addressed to a hypocrite!-not to those who
sincerely want to discern whether a teacher or teaching is true or false to God's Word.
And instead of being a prohibition against honest judgment, it is a solemn warning against
hypocritical judgment. In fact, the last statement of this Scripture commands sincere
judgment-"Then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's
eye." If we take a verse or a part of a verse out of its setting, we can make the
Word of God appear to teach the very opposite of what it really does teach. And those who
do this cannot escape the judgment of God for twisting His Word (2 Peter 3:16). Let this
be a warning to us never again to take a text of Scripture out of its context.
Many who piously quote, "Judge not," out of its context, in order to defend
that which is false to God's Word, do not see their own inconsistency in thus judging
those who would obey God's Word about judging that which is untrue to the Bible. It is
tragic that so much that is anti-Scriptural has undeservedly found shelter behind a misuse
of the Scripture just quoted. The reason the professed church of Christ is today
honeycombed and paralyzed by satanic Modernism is because Christians have not obeyed the
commands of God's Word to judge and put away and separate from false teachers and false
teaching when they first appeared in their midst. Physical health is maintained by
separation from disease germs. Spiritual health is maintained by separation from germs of
false doctrine. The greatest peril of our day is not too much judging, but too little
judging of spiritual falsehood.
God wants His children to be like the noble Bereans who "searched the
Scriptures daily, whether those things were so"(Acts 17:11).
Romans 2:1-3 is also addressed to the religious hypocrite who condemned himself because
he was guilty of the same things for which he condemned others. James 4:11-12 refers to an
evil spirit of backbiting and fault finding, not to judging whether teachers or teachings
agree or disagree with God's Word. The Bible never contradicts itself. To understand one
portion of Scripture we must view it in the light of all Scripture. "No prophecy
of the Scripture is of any private [isolated] interpretation" (2 Peter 1:20). "Comparing
spiritual things [words] with spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:13).
The "Wheat and Tares" parable of Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, is much
misunderstood. First of all, our Lord is talking about the world, not His Church-"the
field is the world." He goes on to say that "the good seed are the
children of the Kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one"
(Matthew 13:38) . They are the two groups in the world; children of God-those who have
received Christ (John 1:12), and the children of the devil-those who reject Christ (John
8:44). When any of the "children of the wicked one" get into the professed
church of Christ, as they have always done, a definite procedure for God's children is set
forth in His Word. First, it is their duty to tell them that they have "neither
part nor lot" in Christ (see Acts 8:21-23 and context).
If the children of the devil do not leave voluntarily, as is generally the case,
God's children are commanded to "purge out" (1 Corinthians 5:7)
these unbelievers. But God's people have disobeyed His Word about this, and so unbelievers
[and disobedient brethren- 2 Thessalonians 3:6,14-15] have gotten into control, as is now
the case in most denominations. Therefore, those who purpose to be true to Christ and His
Word are commanded to "come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the
Lord" (2 Corinthians 6:17), regardless of property or any other considerations.
When we obey God's Word, we can trust Him to take care of all the consequences of our
obedience.
Other Matters to be Judged
The immoral conduct of professed believers in Christ is to be judged. 1 Corinthians,
Chapter 5, tells a sad story and closes with the Apostolic injunction, "Therefore
put away from among yourselves that wicked person" (1 Corinthians 5:13).
Disputes between Christians concerning "things that pertain to this life,"
(1 Corinthians 6:3) should be judged by a tribunal of fellow Christians instead of
going before unbelievers in the civil courts. The whole sixth chapter of 1 Corinthians
makes clear God's plan for His people in this regard. And some startling truths are here
revealed: First, "The saints shall judge the world." Second, "We
shall judge angels" (1 Corinthians 6:2-3). Beloved, are we letting God prepare us
for this high place?
We ought to judge ourselves. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the
faith; prove your own selves" (2 Corinthians 13:5). "For if we would
judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened [child
trained] of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (1
Corinthians 11:31-32). What a change and what a blessing it would be if we would judge our
own faults as uncharitably as we do the faults of others-and if we would judge the
failings of others as charitably as we do our own! And Christians could save themselves
much chastening of the Lord if they would judge and confess and cease their disobedience
to God. And, oh, how much dishonor and lack of fruit would our blessed Lord be spared!
Limitations of Human Judgment
Not scruples or conscience concerning matters of which the Bible does not directly
speak. God forbids our judging our brethren concerning the eating of certain kinds of
food, keeping of days, etc. Romans, Chapter 14, 1 Corinthians 10:23-33, and Colossians
2:16-17 cover this subject.
Not motives. See 1 Corinthians 4:1-5. Only God can see into the heart and know the
motives that underlie actions.
Not as to whom are saved. "The Lord knoweth them that are His" (2
Timothy 2:19). We cannot look into anyone's heart and say whether or not they have
accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, if they profess that they have.
But we had better test ourselves according to 2 Corinthians 5:17: "If any man be
in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become
new." If this change has not taken place, our profession is vain.
Two Elements in Judgment
The New Testament Greek word that is most often translated "judge" or
"judgment" is "krino." On the one hand, it means to
distinguish, to decide, to determine, to conclude, to try, to think and to call in
question. That is what God wants His children to do as to whether preachers, teachers and
their teachings are true or false to His Word. The Apostle Paul writes: "And this
I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that
ye may approve things that are excellent" (Philippians 1:9-10). A wrong idea of
love and lack of knowledge and judgment causes God's people often to approve things that
are anything but excellent in God's sight. The epistle to the Hebrews tells us that mature
believers, that is, those who are of "full age, " are ". .. those
who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil "
(see Hebrews 5:11-14).
On the other hand, the Greek word "krino"-judge or judgment-means to
condemn, to sentence and to punish. This is God's prerogative for He has said,
"Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19).
Guard Against a Wrong Attitude
Christians should guard against the tendency of the flesh to assume a critical and
censorious attitude toward those who do not share our opinions about other matters than
those which have to do with Bible doctrine and moral conduct. Rather than "pick to
pieces" our brethren in Christ, it is our privilege and duty to do everything we can
to encourage their spiritual edification. We ought to love and pray for one another and
consider ourselves lest we be tempted. Galatians 6:1.
A Final Word
If you are saved, my reader, let us not forget that "We must all appear before
the Judgment Seat of Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:10). It will be well with those who
are studying God's Word, walking in the light of it, living for Christ and the salvation
of souls. It will go ill with those who have accepted Christ but who are living for the
things of this world. If you are a mere professor of Christ, or profess nothing, my
friend, may I lovingly remind you "That judgment must begin at the House of God;
and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel?"
(1 Peter 4:17).
Delay not another moment to ask God for Christ's sake to forgive your sins. Surrender
your heart and will to the loving Saviour who died for you and rose again. Make Him the
Lord of your life. Happy and blessed will you be, now and forever.
-by Franklin C. Huling, MA
"For there is some danger of falling into a soft and effeminate Christianity,
under the plea of a lofty and ethereal theology. Christianity was born for endurance; not
an exotic, but a hardy plant, braced by the keen wind; not languid, nor childish, nor
cowardly. If walks with strong step and erect frame; it is kindly, but firm; it is gentle,
but honest; it is calm, but not facile; obliging, but not imbecile; decided, but not
churlish. It does not fear to speak the stern word of condemnation against error, nor to
raise its voice against surrounding evils, under the pretext it is not of this world; it
does not shrink from giving honest reproof, lest it come under the charge of displaying an
unchristian spirit. It calls sin sin, on whomsoever it is found, and would rather risk the
accusation of being actuated by a bad spirit than not discharge an explicit duty. Let us
not. misjudge strong words used in honest controversy. Out of the heat a viper may come
forth but we shake it off and feel no harm. The religion of both Old and New Testaments is
marked by fervent outspoken testimonies against evil. To speak smooth things in such a
case may be sentimentalism, but it is not Christianity. It is a betrayal of the cause of
truth and righteousness. If anyone should be frank, manly, honest, cheerful (I do not say
blunt or rude, for a Christian must be courteous and polite); it is he who has tasted that
the Lord is gracious, and is looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God I
know that charity covereth a multitude of sins; but it does not call evil good, because a
good man has done it; it does not excuse inconsistencies, because the inconsistent brother
has a high name and a fervent spirit; crookedness and worldliness are still crookedness
and worldliness, though exhibited in one who seems to have reached no common height of
attainment."
- HORATIUS BONAR (1808-89)
This tract is available from the Fundamental Evangelistic Association. Click here
to go to the ordering form /
price list.
Return to
Tracts and Literature Index Page
