CALLED TO JUDGE?
By Steven Mitchell
When anyone expresses concern over the doctrinal purity or integrity of many in today's high-profile ministries, they are often condemned as being "judgers" and its implied that to even question a famous pastor or their ministry's actions or teachings, is a sin approaching the seriousness of blasphemy.
Some fellow believers have told me that to question the teachings of Benny Hinn or Kenneth Copeland or to test their claims and prophecies by the Word of God is to "come against the anointing of God". I've also been warned by a charismatic friend that I would be in danger of direct judgment from God because I was "in resistance" to the "moving of His Spirit". I was advised to institute a 'brain dump" and just accept without question the truth that Hinn teaches because he was "anointed" by God. By pointing out the presence of some false teachings in YWAM circles, I've been accused of having "the blood of the saints" on my hands, and being a "sower of discord" which the Lord hates. Add to these labels the seemingly everpresent charge of being "unloving" if error is identified about a particular doctrine or practice in the ministry of certain men.
Pretty heavy accusations there and usually made by people who later admit that they are uninformed about the particular problem I was trying to bring to their attention. Needless to say, these charges would make some Christians hang their head in shame or even "suck dirt in repentance" (something I've also been told to do) at even the thought of having a problem with some of these teachings.
Here in India, many churchgoers are commanded that they are forbidden to question their church pastor about any disagreements or problematic teaching. In some cases, questions of any kind are unwelcome because they are interpreted as disrespect for authority or seniority. The idea of "loving correction" or honest inquiry towards one's pastor is deemed unthinkable in some Indian (and American) churches.
So what are we to do? Can we ever question any teaching by a church pastor or leader or anyone? Are we to just take everything any of these ministries tell us as the always-true "word of the Lord"? Are these men and women in such authority that to question them is to "attack God"? Specifically, if I don't accept the teachings and claims of Benny Hinn will I really be "judged by God" or be guilty of "quenching the Holy Spirit"? Think about this one. Is AFI.com guilty for labeling someone a false teacher? Are YOU guilty for reading these articles?
Judge Not!!
Let's attempt to answer some of these questions by looking at God's Word and see what the Bible has to say about this topic of judging. (Note: This article's purpose is not to necessarily define "judging", but to show that we are allowed to do it. Other articles deal with this topic more in-depth). We'll begin in Matthew 7, because it is probably the most famous passage about judging and the phrase "judge not" or "Do not judge" is one of the first to spring from the lips of a supporter of Third Wave or Word-Faith ministries. Let's look at a few verses:
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck out of your eye'; and look, a plank is on your own eye?
Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye."
(Matt. 7:1-5)
In this passage, Jesus has been teaching the crowds in Galilee that have assembled to hear Him after a powerful time of ministry in the surrounding regions. All ears are certainly open as Messiah is drawing to the close of this beautiful teaching we call "The Sermon on the Mount". He's been addressing issues of righteousness, prayer, wealth, and other things all interspersed with teaching on the Law and Christ's authority to reveal the true standard of righteousness required for relationship with God.
It is unfortunate that this passage is often recklessly wrenched from this context. A sad fact also emerges that many who have memorized "Do not Judge" may not even know the context of the passage they so easily quote, not to mention the actual meaning of that phrase as it is explained here.
Jesus Christ indeed did say this statement but then proceeded immediately to describe to the people what kind of judging was forbidden. He also explains the heavy accountability that comes with judgments.
In vs. 1 and 2, He makes it clear to the people that making a judgment call about another person carries with it the reality that the "judger" is also open and naked before the eyes of the only truly righteous Judge of the universe. All of our judgments carry within them the possibility of error or presumption, but God knows all things. This fact should make us fearful of being accurate. The person who judges another should therefore take extreme caution as to their own condition when looking at someone else's life. The main thrust of His teaching here is that anyone who judges hypocritically is forbidden to make that judgment and will suffer judgment from God.
Hypocrisy is the killer element here. No one should judge another person, if they are doing something that disqualifies them to do so. Jesus has merely said in this passage that being a phony or hypocrite ("actor") is the condition that renders one's judgment dangerous. He is not making a sweeping statement here saying that no one can judge anything at any time, He is merely qualifying the type of judgment we are not to do in any circumstance. This is made clearer in the following verses.
In Verses 3-5, Jesus paints a picture using the eyes clogged with a speck and a plank. The obvious idea He conveys here (vividly, I might add) is that the hypocritical judger cannot make an accurate judgment or condemnation because that person is also involved in a sin of an even greater measure. Christ says that a person in that condition has no ability to even see the facts straight and therefore wouldn't even be able to make an accurate judgment. The emphasis is on the hypocrisy, because it shows that this person doesn't even realize the seriousness of his or her own sin. How then can they judge another who seems better off anyway? (Which is preferable? A speck or a plank?).
This story illustrates how important it is to have a holy and "clear" walk before the Lord. Our own hearts need to be purified and then our eyes will see clearly the difference between truth and error. Note verse 5 again:
"Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye."
What a heavy command from Jesus. We can see His desire and requirement is that we have no hypocrisy in our lives. But note something very important here. He still allows the possibility of removing the speck from the brother's eye, BUT only after the judger's eye is clear. Don't miss this point! Christ is showing us the conditions under which judgment is allowed.
For example, I may say that someone is teaching a false teaching after careful study and testing the message using the Bible as my standard for truth. Am I allowed to say that a person's teaching is unbiblical and therefore, false if it fails the test of Scripture? Absolutely, UNLESS I am involved in grievous sin in my life or also teaching false things. Anyone can see that one false teacher who calls another a false teacher is like one elephant making fun of another elephant because he has a long nose.
(Note: there are conditions that classify a person as a false teacher or false prophet and those must be carefully considered before judging someone for being one of those. PTS has other articles that treat this subject biblically).
I hope that the above is clear. Just know that there may be sin in the life of a fellow believer and God may have you in a position to see that. We must discern and take necessary action. The neat thing is, God views the removal of a speck from your brother's eye as a ministry to that person. We all need accountability from each other to help us see certain shortcomings or sins that we may not realize. In such cases, I am grateful in my life that God has brought others to me, who in truth and love warned me of a speck (or plank in some cases) that was blinding me. BUT know for certain, from the teaching in this passage, that you must be living a Godly life or your judgment of sin in another person's life is forbidden.
Righteous Judgment
Let's look at another passage:
In John 7, Jesus has been teaching in the Temple at the halfway point of the Feast of Tabernacles. He declares to the Jews the origin of His ability to teach (vs. 16-19). Then an amazing thing happens. Jesus, seeing into the hearts of the leaders, reveals to them that He is aware of their plot to kill Him. This struck deep in their hearts and they reacted foolishly by accusing the Messiah of having a demon (v.20) and of being paranoid. Let's read:
"Jesus answered and said to them, 'I did one work and you all marvel. Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?'
(John 7:21-23)
Jesus showed the leaders their sin by logically proving that they had no grounds for their hostility towards Him. In other words, they judged Christ hypocritically and wrongly. In their zeal to keep the Law of Moses, they would perform a surgical act of actually removing flesh from a human being; depletion on a holy day, if you will. Christ actually granted physical wholeness and complete health to a man on this same day, and yet they condemn Him for it. True hypocrisy of heart is being displayed here and Jesus reveals it in living color. Then, He delivers the final blow by making an authoritative statement like this one:
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." (John 7:24)
We can clearly see here that Jesus is against the idea of "judging books by their covers." We cannot see into the deep recesses of a man's heart but Christ can and could and proved it right here in John 7. Looks are not the basis for judging another (James 2:1-13) and, therefore, should not be something we are influenced by. BUT then Jesus expressly tells us to judge and specifies what kind of judgments we are entitled to make. Verse 24 tells us that, as long as we are using righteous standards (true judgment without hypocrisy) then we are permitted to do it.
Christ is showing the religious leaders here that not only was their assessment of His ministry inaccurate, but they were also judging hypocritically because they would perform circumcision on the Sabbath (which involved actual depletion from the human body), while at the same time, condemning the Messiah for healing someone. While they were injuring, He was healing affliction.
What a powerful passage! So we have seen in these two passages that there are types of judging which are forbidden and types which are allowed. No where in these two passages (or elsewhere in scripture for that matter) are we instructed NEVER to discern another person' actions or their ministry's teachings.
Using These Truths Today
Incidentally, when a defender of a false teacher or erroneous ministry tells me "Judge not" if I say anything in question of them, I immediately respond to them "except with righteous judgment". Both phrases are easy to remember and both are true if understood in their proper contexts.
Again, the purpose of this article is not so much to define "judging", but to demonstrate that all are able and actually commanded to judge or discern certain things. Maybe you are thinking, "Where in the Bible am I told to judge?' Look no further than Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians:
"For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor. 2:10-14)
In Chapters 1 and 2, Paul has been teaching the Corinthian church about the differences and definitions of heavenly and earthly wisdom. In the above verses, he launches into a discussion of the Holy Spirit's ministry in the heart and mind of every believer (including you and me; not just your pastor, or a televangelist, by the way). Clearly, without the Spirit of God living in us, guiding us, and empowering us, we could not live pleasing lives before God. In addition, we would not be able to comprehend the truths of the Bible without the Spirit's illuminating our understanding. What a beautiful gift we've received!
In Verses 12-14, we read that the Spirit gives us the ability to appraise, filter, and discern between what is truth and error (heavenly/earthly). This passage is power-packed but our focus for the purpose of this article lies in the first part of verse 15:
"But he who is spiritual judges all things…" (1 Cor. 2:15a)
What a revelation! Do we really understand the nature of this verse? "Judge" here means, "to discern" and Paul tells us that a characteristic of a person who is being led and guided by the Spirit in their heart and mind is that they are able to discern ALL things. This can basically be viewed as a mandate to discern because judging rightly is wrapped up in the actual identity of the "spiritual man". "The things of the Spirit of God" are made clear to us by the Holy Spirit in us and then we are able to see clearly.
"All things" involves knowing what is of God and what is not of God. For Example, if a well-known author writes a book containing teachings that don't match up with the Bible's truths, then the spiritual man or woman sees, recognizes, and judges those things using God's Word in the power of the Spirit. When a televangelist or pastor teaches unbiblical things, engages in unscriptural behavior, or endorses those who do likewise, then we need to stand and "judge" whether that person's words or actions are in harmony with what the Bible teaches. (In fact, one could say without lying, that the judgments we pronounce are from God's Word, therefore we are just alerting the person to God's judgment on the matter as revealed in His Word). Our judgments should never be merely our opinions or thoughts on a matter. We must uphold the Bible as authoritative and our standard for judging.
While this is not worded as such to suggest a commandment, I believe it is clearly implied because this verse shows that discernment is a vital, crucial component inherent in the lives of people who are led by the Spirit. Part of what it means to BE a "spiritual man" involves the presence of the Spirit's enablement to judge rightly. This is something we should all see manifested in our lives, and Paul exemplified it for us in his life. It is a matter-of-fact statement that one who is "walking in the Spirit" will demonstrate discernment in these things. This is more a function of "being" spiritual, than "doing" spiritual things. In that sense, it goes beyond a formal commandment and should be something (super) naturally present in our lives to a great extent. But the requirement to judge is present in the Biblical guidelines for being a watchful believer, so on that level; it is a command as well.
Does this mean we are to have opinions and air them to everyone about everything? Are we to search in an accusatory way to discover and expose our fellow man's weaknesses and "dirty laundry"? Does this verse give us the license to condemn others to hell after they die or to become self-righteous people who think we know everything? Absolutely not!
However, what this verse does allow for is that testing what others preach and teach in Churches and on television ministries by the Word of God is a commendable and necessary act. In no way are we to receive the unjust charges of attacking the "anointing" of God or "quenching the Spirit" if we have concerns about truth in the church. I need not feel ashamed for speaking the truth when it comes to warning the church of dangerous falsehood. To all who lay the charge "Judge not" I lovingly ask them to read this verse. It does give us mandate to make discernment calls as long as we are walking uprightly with the Lord.
Keep in mind, the same apostle who wrote this letter to the Corinthians wrote 12 other letters in our New Testament, many of which carry sincere and clear warnings against the dangers of false teachers and their teachings. Paul vigorously discerned and even identified by name many who were stirring up trouble in God's church by teaching devilish doctrines. Paul taught us by example to be watchmen and this fits perfectly the context of this verse. As long as we steer clear from hypocrisy and false external judgments, then we are in positions to be good watchmen that the church needs today. We ought to judge or discern between truth and error and then take action as God leads.
PTS trusts that this short treatment of what has become a very volatile subject today has helped you a little bit in this area. Check out our other articles on these topics and let them aid you in making right decisions in discernment. May you be benefited greatly by the riches of the Bible.
Steven Mitchell is a missionary with Gate Way Ministries India currently ministering in Mumbai, India. He is the Director of PowerToStand Ministries and Answers For India.com and has a heart to see India's Churches grow in love for one another as well as reach their people for Jesus Christ. Thanks for reading. We do seminars!