To Judge Or Not To Judge

Judge Not

 

My devotion this week is going to be about my learning time with the Lord due to some personal comments I have had thrown at me over the last few years. As I hear from many facing the same criticism, I felt it best to look through the lens of scripture so as these attacks come we know how to deal with them. The very first comment that always comes back at me after I warn or rebuke or confront others of false teachings is this: I don’t think you are being very loving Stephanie. In fact that is dividing the Church and you better be careful about slander or defaming someone’s name. Sometimes I admit I just walk away or don’t respond, because I almost feel like I would be arguing a moot point with some.  John MacArthur could not have put my thoughts any better though. We must also look at the definition for slander or defame first. It is a word thrown around today by people who are either lazy and do not want to discern or have had others who do not want to be corrected throw that same attack at them.

Slander -a false and malicious statement or report about someone. To slander or defame someone’s name would mean that you knowingly have malicious intent to harm someones reputation with a false accusation. ( Please note, this does not mean teachings or writings that are available to anyone who will test for themselves. Testing someone’s teachings and writings is not making a false statement about something they said, if it can be verified.)

Gossip would be different. If we gossip then we take information around just for the sake of talking about others and pass it from person to person. There is no purpose for this information, except to share someone else’s business and should be avoided at all times.

With that being said, exposing others for their false teaching that is open for all to read, hear or see and warning others to flee from them is neither slander nor gossip. We must look at Scripture instead of opinion to see whether we are free to judge a person’s fruit and what they teach and if we should expose them.

Ephesians 5:6 says: Let no one decieve 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.

Ephesians 5:11 says: Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

1 Corinthians 5:12-13  What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you.

Romans 16:17 says: I urge you brothers, to watch out for those who cause DIVISIONS and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the TEACHING you have learned. KEEP AWAY from them. For such people are NOT serving our Lord Christ, but their OWN appetites. (emphesis mine). These men are the dividers not the exposer or the one who flees. Yet I can promise you the world and the enemy will certainly want to make you the divisive one. Keeping you involved and silent allows them to continue in their ways and for Satan to continue his job. Fleeing and exposing, causes a roadblock for them. If you are a false teacher or the Lord has revealed that you are dividing a church for false reasons or out of impure motives then you must get before the Lord now and repent. But if you are being obedient and exposing false teachers you are doing what must be done. Paul also says in 1 Timothy 1:20- Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.  Was Paul wrong for calling these guys out by name? We must always keep our motives and hearts open before the Lord, but judgeing someone’s fruit and teachings helps us to guard ourselves from false teachings and the snares of Satan, but more importantly it helps us warn others so that they are not taken captive by Satan to do his will. That my friends is what true love is all about!