Why We Must Stop Judging People - Part 3
People point out that the Apostle Paul actually *directed *the Corinthian church to judge people.
So, what about that? Was Paul contradicting Jesus’ command to “Judge not?”
That’s a great question. Let’s look at what Paul actually told the church to do. It always helps when we read what the Bible actually says.
In 1 Corinthians 6:3, Paul made this statement:
“Don’t you know that we will judge angels? Then we should be able to judge the things of this life even more!” (NIRV)
What was Paul talking about?
When we look at it in context, Paul was talking about settling disagreements that came up between believers. He was definitely NOT talking about judging the value and worth of individuals, criticizing them, or finding fault with them, which Jesus forbids us from doing!
Look at the whole passage:
“Does any of you dare, **when he has a matter of complaint against another [brother], **to go to law before unrighteous men [men neither upright nor right with God, laying it before them] instead of before the saints (the people of God)?
“Do you not know that the saints (the believers) will [one day] judge and govern the world? And if the world [itself] is to be judged and ruled by you, are you unworthy and incompetent to try [such petty matters] of the smallest courts of justice?
“Do you not know also that we [Christians] are to judge the [very] angels and pronounce opinion between right and wrong [for them]? How much more then [as to] matters pertaining to this world and of this life only!
“If then you do have such cases of everyday life to decide, why do you appoint [as judges to lay them before] those who [from the standpoint] of the church count for least and are without standing?
“I say this to move you to shame. Can it be that there really is not one man among you who [in action is governed by piety and integrity and] is wise and competent enough to decide [the private grievances, disputes, and quarrels] between members of the brotherhood,
“But brother goes to law against brother, and that before [Gentile judges who are] unbelievers [without faith or trust in the Gospel of Christ]?
“Why, the very fact of your having lawsuits with one another at all is a defect (a defeat, an evidence of positive moral loss for you). Why not rather let yourselves suffer wrong and be deprived of what is your due? Why not rather be cheated (defrauded and robbed)?
“But [instead it is you] yourselves who wrong and defraud, and that even your own brethren [by so treating them]!”—1 Corinthians 6:1-8 (AMPC)
Settling disagreements among God’s people in this way goes all the way back to Moses. His experience is probably a good example of the kind of judging that some believers will be entrusted with in the ages to come. It will not be about finding fault with people (or with angels) but it will be about settling disagreements, as we read in Exodus chapter 18:
“The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.
“When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, ‘What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?’
“Moses replied, ‘Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God’s decrees and give them his instructions.’”—Exodus 18:13-16 (NLT)
In this same way, as Paul advised, disagreements can be settled between believers justly, according to the principles of God’s Word, rather than in a secular court according to human reasoning. If we really put this into practice in Christian churches, the Church could have the best justice system in the world! It could be far superior to the justice systems of corrupt secular governments.
There are a few other instances in Scripture where we see the Church come together to settle disagreements among believers. One of the best examples is when the church leaders met to determine what guidance to give to the new Gentile believers. Some believed circumcision was necessary, others did not. This became a very divisive issue. The Church leaders met to settle this dispute in Acts 15.
“Then some men came down from Judea and started to teach the brothers, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the Law of Moses, you can’t be saved.’ Paul and Barnabas had quite a dispute and argument with them. So Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to confer with the apostles and elders about this question.”—Acts 15:1-2 (ISV)
The Church leaders sat in judgment, not to find fault, but to determine what guidance to give to new believers according to the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. By comparison, this is similar to the types of decisions handed down by the US Supreme Court that give guidance and direction to our secular society.
Replacing Jesus’ Commands with Our Traditions
Jesus’ command stands supreme above all of our human reasoning and arguments. We are commanded not to judge people. If we insist on judging others, then we bring down God’s judgment upon ourselves. Jesus is very clear.
“Do not judge other people. Then you will not be judged. You will be judged in the same way you judge others. You will be measured in the same way you measure others.”—Matthew 7:1-2 (NIRV)
If we’re not careful, we will adopt religious traditions that justify us passing judgment on people in direct contradiction to Jesus’ command. In doing this, we will become just like the religious leaders of Jesus’ day who were the objects of His most scathing rebukes.
“He answered and said to them, ‘Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
“This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
‘For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.’
“He said to them, ‘All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. For Moses said, “Honor your father and your mother”; and, “He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.” But you say, “If a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban’—” (that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, **making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. **And many such things you do.’”—Mark 7:6–13 (NKJV)
As far as I can see in Scripture, there are only three situations in which it is appropriate to judge the behavior of people, and these all must be done within the context of the Church body and the oversight of Church authority:
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Settling disagreements between believers, as Paul described in 1 Corinthians 6.
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Dealing with specific sins, as Jesus instructed in Matthew 18:15-17, and as Paul described in 1 Corinthians 5.
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Dealing with error in doctrine, teaching, and prophesying, as Jesus warned the churches in Revelation chapter 2, and as Paul instructed in 1 Corinthians 14:29.
