Should we judge?
"Judge not, and ye shall not be judged." (KJV Luke 6:37)
That's what the Bible says. It's very clear, we should not judge others in any way. We should be TOLERANT of everything and anything someone else wants to do -- as long as they are not harming others.
NOT! - That's not right. That is not what the Bible says.
So that means Christians are intolerant bigots.
NO - That is also not right.
What did Yeshua mean when He said, "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged"? (KJV Luke 6:37). He said this as a part of His teaching on love and forgiveness. He tells us to love everyone, including our enemies, and that we should not judge them. We should forgive them. The word He used is “agape”. It means “to serve”. It does not mean to feel an emotion for someone.
First, we need to note that Yeshua is talking about our personal relationships with other people. Our one-to-one relationships.
Second, we need to read the entire Bible, not just one verse, before deciding doctrine..
Third and most importantly, we are to judge ourselves FIRST, before seeing clearly to help anyone else. “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matt 7:4-5) We are to be in the process of transformation personally, then and only then, can we have the right and Godly perspective. Does that mean since we are not perfect, this instruction to “see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” is null and void? No, it does not. That is what the enemy would like us to believe. In the Body of Christ, there is intentional accountability for everyone. But there is also a word of warning against judging everyone. “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”(Matt 7:6)
The Bible also tells us there are things that we are supposed to hate -- sins.
Sins are behaviors that separate us from God.
"--your sins cut you off from God." (NLT) - Isaiah 59:2
"Don't you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers and swindlers--none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God."(NLT)1 Cor 6:9-10
God hates sin and so we are also to hate sin.
"There are six things the LORD hates--no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers." (NLT) Prov 6:1619
As Christians we are to be intolerant of sin. We are to serve other people, and treat all other people with agape, but that does not mean that we accept their sinful behavior. On the contrary, we are to detest and hate all sinful behavior and thoughts.
Should we judge non believers?
2 Corinthians 6:14 tells us that we should not marry a non-Christian: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers". How can we tell if someone is a believer or unbeliever? We judge their behavior. James 2:14-26 shows us that we see another's faith through their behavior. We are to be fruit inspectors. “Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them” Matt 7:20 What kind of fruit will a true believer display? “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance”. Matt 3:8 A believer will constantly and consistently be dealing with his own sin and not continually repeating sinful behaviors, “as a dog returns to its vomit….” (Prov 26:11).
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God” Heb 10:26
“No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen Him or known Him”. 1John 3:6
Another example: 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 tells us that if someone is an unrepentant sinner, that person should be "turned over to Satan" by excluding the sinner from Christian fellowship.
"How terrible that you should boast about your spirituality, and yet you let this sort of thing go on. Don't you realize that if even one person is allowed to go on sinning, soon all will be affected? Remove this wicked person from among you so that you can stay pure." (NLT) - 1 Corinthians 5:6-7 “So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. (NIV) 1Cor 5:4-5
We should judge other's behavior: Throughout the Bible we see that we are to judge the behavior of others.
We should not support sin: On the other hand we should not support sinful behavior, nor should we protect people from the consequences of unrepentant sinful behavior. YHVH has shown us throughout His word that He will deal with unrepentant sinful behavior of His children. As painful as that may be to watch, we should not get in His way.
Should we shun unrepentant sinners?
What if you had a friend who stopped by to visit you at your home on a regular basis, and that friend was always stealing things from you? One day he takes your TV and sells it at a pawn shop. The next day he takes your car and sells that also. He takes your watch, any cash that is lying around--he even takes your dog! Then he takes your wife!
Every chance he gets he steals something from you. Would you continue to invite that person into your home?
This is what the Bible is talking about. People who call themselves Christians, but are unrepentant sinners, are stealing people from their salvation in Christ if they are allowed to continue in the fellowship of believers. They are falsely representing God by their behavior and their beliefs. The bible takes a firm stance on those “called by His Name” and operating in Truth is extremely important to Him.
However, this does not mean we are to shun those who need the gospel. 1 Corinthians 5 also tells us:
"When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or who are greedy or are swindlers or idol worshippers. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian, yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don't even eat with such people." (1 Corinthians 5:9-11)
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.” (Eph 5:1-7)
Sin keeps us separated from God. If someone claiming to be a Christian is leading people into sin by their false testimony of behavior, teaching, or example, that person should not be allowed to lead members of the Body of Christ away from Christ and away from Truth into sin. That person (after all other attempts to get them to change have failed) must then be excluded from the fellowship of Christians.
How are we to “judge” according to the Word and still
“love” according to the Word?
This is one of the most misrepresented subjects in scripture. Commentaries have told us that “agape” is the type of love only God possesses or gives to His children to display. We’re told that agape is the highest form of love and it is unconditional. Again, not right!
“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people “agape” darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)
“Woe to you Pharisees, because you “agape” the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.” (NIV Luke 11:43)
As you can see, “agape” is not an unconditional love that only God can display or impart. Actually, agape is the most basest or lowest form of love in that it is displayed in action with or without emotion. A better definition is “serve” or “honor”. It requires doing, not feeling, and it is a command that can be carried out regardless how one person “feels” about another. In fact, to “feel” an emotion for another does not fulfill the requirement to “agape” as seen in the following.
“Yet I (Jesus) hold this against you: You have forsaken the “agape” you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” (NIV Rev 2:4-6)
So to conclude, it is possible to judge rightly to fulfill the commandments of scripture. But, we must understand what we are to do before doing it. At the same time, we can also “serve” our neighbors, as well as our enemies and fulfill the commandments to agape, as to serve someone does not require emotion. In other words, we are not trying to get our “feelings” to cooperate. Actually, one of the blessings of obedience will indeed result in a change of heart but it is not required to “agape”. This also explains how we might be able to “agape” a murderer, a violent offender or someone who has wronged us greatly. We can still serve them even through pain.
If we condemn a fellow Christian for rightly judging, we are operating outside of Truth. The scriptures tell us to judge, who to judge, when to judge and how to judge rightly. Make sure you are holding others accountable to the actual Truth of scripture and not just your own ideas or beliefs. Any distortion of the Truth should be repented of and steps taken to correct the misinformation. Continuing to operate according to your own ideas or beliefs is idolatry and rebellion and should be dealt with severely. Have a malleable heart toward these issues. Be open to the direction of the Holy Spirit in all matters and keep a willingness to be pruned and an accountability to the Body of Christ. A transformed mind results in a transformed life!