Many christians believe christians are not allowed to judge other christians and must leave all judgments to God. The only judgment they know is the judgment referred to by Jesus in Matthew 7:1,2.
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you used, it will be measured to you" (Matthew 7:1,2, NIV).
The Scripture revealed that there are two types of judgments, the rightious judgment and the unrighteous judgment. Needless to say that all christians are called to make righteous judgment and forbidden to make unrighteous judgment.
Unrighteous Judgment
Let us look carefully what Jesus meant with reference to the Amplified Bible:
"Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticised and condemned yourselves. For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you deal out to others it will be dealt out again to you" (Matthew 7:1,2, emphasis added).
Clearly, the type of judgment in Matthew 7:1,2 means also to criticise and to condemn the action and motive of other people.
According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon this type of judgment is "forming an opinion concerning what is right or wrong" or "subjective decision made in accusation or condemnation". In fact there is a wide range of meaning for the Greek words "krino" and "krisis" for "judge" and "judgment" respectively.
When a person makes a subjective or presumptuous judgment he is judging another person's action, motive or situation merely by his senses and emotion which is a soulish way of judging. I think this is precisely what Jesus said:
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24, NKJV).
Clearly, Jesus said His disciples must judge with with righteous judgment and not to judge according to appearance, or what appears to be true. The amplified Bible says, "do not judgment superficially at a glance".
Another example of making subjective or presumptuous judgment is made clear by James:
"Do not speak evil of another brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge" (James 4:11, NKJV).
"Evil" referred to speaking against another person's motive, manner of living and behavior or attitude. Again, this form of "judgment" is merely subjective. Furthemore, the "motive" of a person comes from his heart which is only known by God. Therefore, any judgment made against a person's heart, thoughts or motive are unrighteous judgment.
Righteous Judgment
Righteous judgment is judgment based on the truth and authority of God's Word. Righteous judgment comes from the spirit of man led by the Spirit of God. As I mentioned before, we relate to God with our spirit. In other words, we know God and His Word through our spirit. In fact, only God has the authority to make righteous judgment and He uses God fearing christians who have intimate relationship with Him to institute His judgment.
Here is an example of righteous judgment instituted by Paul:
When it was reported that there was sexual immorality in the Church at Corinth Paul passed judgment to the guilty Church member.
"Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in Spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present ...." (1 Cor 5:3,4, NIV).
Paul said in other words, when christians gathered in the Name of Jesus as a Church, should pass judgment on the offender by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
Any elder or pastor fails to exercise righeous judgment fails in his calling as a shepherd of God's flock in at least two counts:
1. He fails in his duty as a shepherd in the Local Church. God expects him to rule and to exercise discipline and chastisement for the purpose of providing education, instuctions and corrective guidance (2 Tim. 2:25) to Church members.
2. He fails to understand the Scripture and the purpose of the Scripture:
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16, NKJV, emphasis added).
In my opnion, if righteous judgment (like example in 1 Cor. 5) has been strictly exercised in the contemprorary Local Church, unrepentant polygamists will not be allowed to be Church members. "Laughing rivival" and other unbiblical phenomena will not be accepted. Properity and othe false "gospels" will also be rejected.
The Church must judge doctrine. If leaders fails to judge doctrine, it is tantamount to rejecting Biblical truth, and God will send the Church a strong delusion.
"And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thess. 2:11,12).
This is happening now!
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