Virtual Devotions

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church?  Are you not to judge those inside? – 1 Corinthians 5:12

Dear Friends,

“Judge not!” is the rallying cry of so many people both in and out of the church.  But why?  Why don’t they want us to judge?  Is there Scriptural backing for their claim?

To answer these questions, we need to first define what it means, “to judge.”  Are we talking about declaring someone to be worthy of eternal life in heaven or are we talking about determining if someone’s actions are appropriate or not?   Then, we need to separate those in the church, professing Christians, from those outside the church.

I believe Scripture is clear that we are not to pronounce judgment on someone’s eternal destination.   That day will come when Christ sits in the judgment seat.  Until then, while we are here on earth, we should be concerned for someone’s eternal destination and make every effort to tell him or her about the coming judgment and the only hope of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.   This does require that we point out their sinfulness to them so that they will understand their need for Christ, not as a judgment, but as a warning.

Which leads us to the second meaning of judgment, judging someone’s actions in order to correct him or her.   Inside the church we absolutely are to judge one another’s actions.  If someone claiming to be a Christian is not acting in a Christ-like manner, it is your responsibility as a fellow Christian to correct him or her.  Of course, you are to do it in a Christ-like manner, firm, yet loving.  Refer to Matthew 18:15-20 for the proper way to do this.

Outside of the church, I do not believe we are to judge someone else’s actions.  Until they come to Christ, what good does it do?  How do you tell someone who doesn’t have faith in Christ to be more Christ-like?  True, we need to open the moral law of God to them to expose their need for Christ for eternal salvation, however, to try to get someone to change their mind and accept Christian values before becoming a Christian is foolish.

What business is it of mine to judge the actions of those outside of the church?  It’s not.  Leave the lawbreakers to the law.  That’s why God instituted governments.  Am I not to judge those inside?  Certainly I am.  If we inside the church don’t correct those inside the church, we may as well go back and join the world.

In Christ,

David