Good Question
To Judge, or Not to Judge
Christ commanded us not to judge others, but aren't there times when common sense or prudence requires it? Asked by Stephen Hunt, St. Paul, Minnesota
Answered by Roger E. Olson | posted 06/29/2005 09:00 a.m.
Even people who know very little about the Bible are usually familiar with Jesus' saying "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matthew 7:1, KJV). This command is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount; it is Jesus' most popular saying because our culture values tolerance so highly.
But it is usually ripped out of context and misinterpreted.
Matthew 7:1-5 includes Jesus' warning about trying to take a speck out of a neighbor's eye while ignoring the log in your own eye. In verse five, Jesus makes clear the audience he is addressing: "You hypocrite!" When Jesus says "Do not judge," he is warning people against heaping criticism and condemnation on others without being willing to examine one's own behavior. Clearly the context is one in which some religious leaders were harshly condemning other people while attempting to justify their own sinfulness.
Furthermore, many people are unaware of balancing texts about judging in the rest of the New Testament. These include Jesus' command "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment" (John 7:24, NRSV), and Paul's rhetorical question "Is it not those who are inside [the church] that you are to judge?" (1 Cor. 5:12). Clearly not all judging is forbidden. If that were the case, the church could have no boundaries; the body of Christ would not be a body but a gaseous vapor!
Paul urged the Corinthian church to exclude the man who was living with his father's wife; he ordered them not to associate with people who claim to be Christians but live blatantly sinful lives without repentance (1 Cor. 5). Did Paul simply forget Jesus' command not to judge? Was he unaware of it? That's doubtful. Rather, we should suppose that Jesus meant only to condemn hypocritical judging. When the church must discipline a member, it should always do so in full recognition of everyone's lack of perfection and need of the Savior.
Some churches and Christian organizations avoid church discipline because it is a form of judging, and judging is wrongly equated with intolerance. Judging is then (ironically) judged incompatible with the spirit of Jesus' teaching. Church discipline is surely the more biblical approach, even as it is fraught with danger.
The New Testament condemns every spirit that says Jesus Christ has not come in the flesh (1 John 4). Today the problem is more likely to arise around denials of Christ's deity. And yet Christ's deity is a nonnegotiable of Christian faith that is crucial to the gospel. Christians should not tolerate denials of such central truths within the church, and must discipline with love those who knowingly reject the truth of the Incarnation.
Similarly, the New Testament condemns immorality, including homosexual behavior (Rom. 1:26-27). Churches that condone such behavior among believers are abdicating their responsibility to shepherd God's flock.
Church discipline inexorably involves making judgments and even judging people's behaviors, but it can be done in a nonjudgmental and humble manner. One church I know stripped a man of membership, without shaming or humiliating him, because he refused to cease an adulterous relationship or repent of it. He was encouraged to continue attending worship services, and his involvement in the church eventually contributed to his repentance and restoration to full fellowship. The church acknowledged that everyone sins, but recognized the importance of a repentant spirit. Without such humble discipline, there is no real discipleship.
Finally, even though the context of Matthew 7 may not require it, one is justified in thinking that Jesus does not want us to take God's place in determining individual persons' ultimate spiritual fate. This would be another example of inappropriate judging. Which specific individuals of our acquaintance will end up in heaven and which will end up in hell is not for us to determine. That judgment belongs to God alone.
But who should be a member of a church, and how members should behave as such, must sometimes be decided by the church, based on beliefs and behaviors.
Roger E. Olson is professor of theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University, and author of The Westminster Handbook to Evangelical Theology.
"This article first appeared in (insert date) issue of Christianity Today. Used by permission of Christianity Today International, Carol Stream, IL 60188."
July 2005, Vol. 49, No. 7, Page 52
CONSIDER THIS:
Further review by Garreth L. Clair
This question and the answer given by Roger Olson is excellent to a point but I fear too many well intended apologists go only so far to correct the misconceptions about judging as taught in God’s Written Word. The areas discussed by Mr. Olson are indeed areas of consideration but there are many other areas of judgment that are often ignored in consideration of “unity in diversity” or union of acceptance of other people's religion based upon acceptance of a divine being. This approach to judging is foreign to the true spirit of the New Testament Church [Acts 5:28-33]. The apostles of Christ were not interested in unity in diversity they were interested in unity based upon the teaching of Christ [John 17:17-21] and upon the revelation that was being revealed to them by the Holy Spirit during their lives [John 14:25-29 – Speaking to His Apostles]. They were ambassadors [Eph 6:20] of Christ for the purpose of uprooting the religious philosophies that then existed in their world, they were judges of idolatry, the Essenes, the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the Herodians, the worship of Caesar, and other forms of heathen worship by the world population that they were charged by Christ to evangelize, baptize, and teach [Matthew 28:18-20].
When will the churches of Christ rise up and do the kind of evangelizing that the apostles did during the early years of the New Testament Church [Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:1-47, etc.].
This kind of evangelizing requires the disciples of Christ to judge the value of other men’s religion and if it is not according to God’s revealed will – determined by what the Written Word says [i.e., the Bible], then it is to be condemned.
I say condemned with the honest consideration of the person in a false religion and their feelings but to overlook their false religious doctrines is to do them a disservice. The greatest good that a disciple of the Lord could do for a person in no religion or involved in a false religion is to show them the way out of that entrapment [i.e. sin, missing the mark].
Garreth L Clair - July, 2005 – considermagazine.com
BILLY GRAHAM
A review of an article by Richard N. Ostling
Associated Press
(Review by Garreth Clair)
Now 86 and in frail health, the Rev. Billy Graham is all but certain that his revival in New York City next week will be the last he ever leads in the United States - and probably the last that the famed evangelist does anywhere.
"in my mind, it is," he said during an interview with the associated Press at a Long Island hotel where he's resting up for June 24-26 event.
"I wouldn't like to say 'never,' "Graham added with a chuckle. Never is a bad word.
The elder statesman of the evangelical movement is soft of voice these days, but alert, amiable as ever, and appear in conversation to be bearing up well under a host of ailments, He's brought his simple but powerful message of salvation through Christ to over 210 million people in 185 countries - and is still in demand.
Churches in London, where he made his first international splash a half-century ago, have asked him to preach there around his 87th birthday in November. "The odds of that? I'd say a slight possibility," Graham said.
His son Franklin - now the leader of the Billy Graham Evengelistic Association - will stand by in New York as substitute preacher in case of emergency.
But the elder Graham fully expects to speak for about 35 minutes at all three rallies, and to do so without sitting down, "When I stand up and touch that podium the Holy Spirit comes, I believe, in power to help me. If it weren't for that, I would not have attempted to do these three nights," he said. "I'm just totally dependant on the Lord and the prayers of thousands of people."
REVIEW:
Some true facts about Billy Graham:
Billy Graham is one of the most famous preachers in the world. Billy Graham has preached a message of salvation and love to many millions of people.
Billy Graham has lived a long life and has made much money and aided many worthy causes.
Billy Graham has raised a famous family and they have all benefited from Graham's influence.
Billy Graham has founded or encouraged many human service organizations that have aided the sick, poor, and hungry.
BUT:
Some true facts from God's Written Word about Billy Graham:
Billy Graham's fame will not save him in the judgment,
John 12:48.
Billy Graham's mesage of salvation and love will not save him - the matter of salvation from sin is by God's grace through faith and obedience, Graham does not teach this to the millions of people that have heard him preach.
Billy Graham's long life will not save him, only the Biblical process that is revealed in the New Testament will save him [BELIEF, Mark 16:15-16 - REPENTANCE, Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38 - CONFESSION OF CHRIST AS MESSIAH, Romans 10:9-10 - and BAPTISM IN WATER FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, Acts 2:38; Romans 6:1-6; 1 Peter 3:21], without having submitted to God's plan of salvation from sin, preaching, love, and long life mean nothing.
Billy Graham's famous family cannot save him or him they, all will stand before the righteous judge at the last day to be declared righteous or unrighteous.
John 5:22,
22 For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son;
John 12:48,
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Acts 10:42,
42 And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he who is ordained of God (to be) the Judge of the living and the dead.
Acts 17:31,
31 inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
2 Tim 4:1,
4:1 I charge (thee) in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: ASV
All of the good works that have resulted from Graham's crusades will not save him from sin in the end. Billy Graham has failed all his life to stand for the whole message of salvation, and living for God in this world. Surely he will be judged by the same standard that everyone else receives - without obedience one cannot be saved in the end
Rom 6:16-18,
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves (as) servants unto obedience , his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered;
18 and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.
Heb 5:8-9,
8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;
1 Peter 1:22-23,
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently:
23 having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth. ASV
Billy Graham is a false teacher:
Billy Graham teaches a perveted gospel, Acts 13:10,
"10 and said, O full of all guile and all villany, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?"
Gal 1:6-9,
"6 I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel;
7 which is not another (gospel) only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.
9 As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema." ASV
Billy Graham does not condemn sin in false religions, God requires that the faithful evangelist "preach the truth," - under all circumstance - cf. 2 Timothy 4:1-8
FROM A FAN OF BILLY GRAHAM AND HIS RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY:
From an interview by Larry King:
Joel Osteen, in the interview says that he agrees with 99% of Billy Graham's teaching.
KING: Joel Osteen and Victoria Osteen. Joel is senior pastor of the largest and fastest growing congregation in the United States, the Lakewood Church in Houston. He's called the Smiling Preacher. And you can see why. And his number one "New York Times" best-seller "Your Best Life Now: Seven Steps to Living at Your Full Potential." The companion now published, "Your Best Life Now Journal," and Victoria Osteen, as well.
Gary Workman’s observations - About Osteen's teaching:
He’s a very nice, loving person, seems to be sincere and committed to his task with integrity, presents lots of good advice on a weekly basis, and has a beautiful wife.
He does the kind of preaching that will really draw crowds today:
Do all of your preaching in a very soft and soothing, almost effeminate, tone of voice – kind of like you might use when talking to a baby or a kitten.
Preach with a frozen, perpetual grin on your face that would out-do even Tom Cruise.
1. If you can’t do it, you should maybe think about seeing a plastic surgeon for help.
2. If you just think you would look silly doing it, perish the thought. He looks silly and draws them by the thousands.
Never say that anybody or any type of person – even an atheist or Hindu – will be lost.
Never define sin or preach on anything negative.
Never say that any action is wrong – even abortion, homosexual behavior or a series of marriages.
Never preach that there are any requirements in order to be saved – even a requirement to believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
He says he has convictions, but he does not seem to have any courage of his convictions, which is why he wouldn’t tell his Jewish interviewer that he needs Jesus in order to go to heaven. I can’t imagine Peter or Paul answering Larry King’s pointed questions about salvation the way Joel Osteen did.
He seems to not be sure of anything. Everything is in doubt or up for grabs. He said “I don’t know” 45 times in this interview. That’s more than one per minute of air time.
CONCLUSION:
To be a superstar preacher in today’s era, be a constantly smiling, positive-only person who specializes in self-help but who is not sure what is sinful and what is not and who tells people that they need Jesus but can’t explain why.
Note by Garreth L Clair - "Amen" - July 2, 2005
Articles Selected or edited by Garreth L. Clair
glclair@sbcglobal.net
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PSALMS 23:1-6
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
NKJV BIBLE
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THE JUDGMENT OF GOD IS COMING!
There will never again be a great flood to cover the whole earth, but there will be another day of judgment coming for all mankind. As one reads the account of the first judgment of humanity in - Gen 6:5-10,
5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 9 This is the genealogy of Noah . Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. NKJV
God's promise to never destroy the earth again with a great flood - Gen 9:15-17, 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." 17 And God said to Noah , "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me a. NKJV
God's second judgment is coming - Rev 20:12-21:1,
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire . This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire . NKJV
Prepare now and avoid the clamity that is to befall the wicked - Eccl. 12:13-14
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man's all.
14 For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil. NKJV
Editor, Garreth L. Clair
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