Context or pretext: Biblical judgement
With the continued movement of individualism within the U.S., skeptical believers who take immediate offense at any hint of challenge or discomfort aren’t uncommon when others call out sin judging conduct. Quoting Scripture like Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that you might not be judged” or misusing the idea of God’s love and grace, Christians miss out on the opportunity for biblical reproof.
Several times throughout Scripture, the authors wrote challenges against the concept of holding judgment on others. Even Christ warned against judgment in passages like Matthew 7 and Luke 6 while also seemingly stopping it completely in John 8.
Dissecting these types of passages proves fruitful for the basic understanding of judgment and the possibility of good discussion between two believers at odds with each other. First, in Matthew 7, Christ obviously tells believers not to judge others. But the passage doesn’t end there. Christ continues by saying, “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” Christ’s intention was not to ignorantly stop all judgment but to enforce accurate accountability between believers — a type of accountability that would encourage wisdom and growth within a community for God’s kingdom.
He also continues by explaining how an individual could try to remove the speck in another’s eye while a whole log juts out of his own. Matthew 7:5 contains the key to judgment: “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” The second half shows that the eventual result leads to effective judgment. In reality, Christ encourages judgment, but he desires it to have its full effect for everyone.
The same phrase about judgment is also seen in Luke 6: “Judge not, and you will not be judged.” Jesus follows his statement on judgment with “condemn not, and you will not be condemned,” acting as the major difference between the two passages. He also continues by using the same form of phrasing for forgiveness and giving. Christ purposefully arranged this statement to show the parallelism between a specific form of judgment and condemnation.
Scripture is clear in Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” What gives someone the right to condemn another when God Almighty refuses to do so after granting salvation? Jesus clearly identifies condemnation in conjunction with judgment, not judgment altogether.
Leaning into this type of judgment, John 8:1-8 proves useful for reference. A group of Pharisees, certain in their ways, caught a woman in adultery. Old Testament Law says such a woman should be stoned. Testing Christ, the Pharisees asked, “So what do you say?” Christ responded, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” Keep in mind, Christ didn’t add to her defense, but he simply shut down the hypocritical Pharisees.
After the Pharisees left in disappointment, Christ looked to the woman and judged her. Christ did what? He judged her. He certainly didn’t condemn her, but he said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” He did not condemn, but he judged her actions by telling her to “sin no more.” He guided her to the understanding she already possessed — she sinned.
Not only is John 8 a good passage to look to for guidance against condemnation but it’s a solid example of accurate and loving judgment. Judgment needs to occur within a community of believers for the growth and sanctification of every individual.
Also, biblical judgment occurs within the context of the local church. I continue to see Christians seek answers through Scripture and witness them fail to place those answers in the right context of the church.
The apostle Paul places judgment where it should be in 1 Corinthians 5:11-13. After writing about sexual immorality, Paul commands the church in Corinth to judge those who practice such things specifically in the church body by saying, “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?” He continues with “Purge the evil person from among you.”
Earlier in chapter 5, Paul also explains that in the hope of repentance and eventual change, the body of believers should excommunicate the one who lacks repentance “so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 13 speaks to the correct mindset of aiming for restoration. The hope from brother-to-brother judgment should be eventual restoration in the sinners’ relationship with Christ. 1 Corinthians 13:11 says, “Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Duvall is the opinion editor for the Liberty Champion. Follow him on Twitter
