Post by Messenger on Mar 1, 2008 20:17:01 GMT -5
CHRISTIANS ARE COMMANDED TO JUDGE EVIL
By Alan Yusko
Has this ever happened to you? You give a warning to someone about a false teacher that denies one or more foundational doctrines of the Christian faith. Rather than listen the person gets angry. He begins to quote the Bible as he give you a rebuke. You are told that it is wrong to judge because the Bible says ... judge not lest you be judged. The person then snubs his nose and goes on with their life and continues to listen to the false teacher.
Over the years I have heard one verse in the Bible misquoted more than any other verse. That verse can be found in Matthew chapter 7 verse 1: Judge not, that ye be not judged. People use that verse to excuse and defend all kinds of evil. People are literally attacked and called all kinds of nasty names because they dared to warn about something that is wrong and sinful before God.
This is a very sad example to illustrate that fact. I had that verse used recently against me by someone who wished to defend their use and enjoyment of the occult. This person loved Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings and thought I had no right so say the occult was evil and an abomination before the Lord. This person quoted Matt 7:1 to me and then said I was wrongly condemning and judging all kinds of people because of my stand on the occult. Little did this person realize they were misquoting the Bible and showing their sin-loving and blackened God rejecting heart as they attempted to correct me by twisting the Bible. All this person tried to do is to justify their love of the occult. They loved Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. They had no intention on giving up occult evil and repenting before the Lord.
The occult is very evil and there is no excuse for anyone who belongs to the Lord to be involved in it. Simply put, those who enjoy the occult are not saved and do not belong to God. Only a Christ rejecting heart could love the sin filled abominations of the world of the occult. Sadly I have heard Matt 7:1 misquoted to justify all kinds of sin and false teachers. Believe me, the occult is only one of the many ways I have heard Matt 7:1 misquoted to justify sin and false teaching.
In this article we will address the issue about judging. Does Matt 7:1 really mean that a Christian should never judge anything? Are people rightly quoting the Bible when they forbid people to judge? Should Christians accept all kinds of sin and evil because it is wrong to make any judgments about right and wrong? Should false teaching be allowed to go unchallenged because it is wrong to judge? Should Christians support wolves and false teachers and attend liberal doctrine denying churches because they are not supposed to be judgmental. Is judging evil and false teaching also being unloving, narrow-minded, legalistic, or a Pharisee?
These issues are before the truly saved Christian today in these last evil days before the return of the Lord Jesus. It is hoped that this article will encourage and build up God's people so they will fearlessly defend the faith from all attacks from the devil and his children. The devil's crowd loves to use Matt 7:1 out of context as evil is prospering in these last days before the return of the Lord Jesus. Don't be deceived! Stand against and judge evil because Christians are commanded to do so!
WRONGLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH
Lets start by looking at the verse that is constantly being misquoted in its proper context:
Matt 7
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
The above verses are addressed to a hypocrite who went around judging people of doing evil when he was doing the same things. Just look at verse 3 and 4. Do not judge another person before judging yourself. A good example would be a bank robber. A person who robs banks for a living should not go around judging other people who robs banks. How about this real-time example. Remember the TV evangelist who judged another TV evangelist for sleeping with another women then paying her hush money. The first evangelist was seeing prostitutes while he was judging the other TV evangelist! Only a hypocrite would judge another person while he is guilty of doing the same thing! This is why the above verses first tell a person to judge themselves. Once that is done, one can judge and help others. In its proper context Matt 7:1 does not say it is wrong to judge. Instead it is saying to first judge yourself!
In order to understand Matt 7:1 the entire context must be read. Most people quote verse 1 and ignore the rest of the verses. There is a name for taking a Bible verse out of context. That word is called twisting the Scriptures. Misquoting Matt 7:1 is perverting the Scriptures. Taking a verse out of its setting and building a doctrine around it is deceptive and not rightly dividing the word of God! When one looks at verses 1 - 5 it can be easily seen that we are to judge things.
Let me repeat myself. Verses 1 through 5 gives a foundation rule for judging. The rule is this: First judge yourself before judging another. There is nothing wrong with judging as long as you have first judged yourself!
People use Matt 7:1 out of context to justify evil and things that God hates. By ripping verse 1 out of context professing Christians (tares) justify the occult, rock music, false religions, and heresies. Wrongly using Matt 7:1 to justify evil is one of the great deceptions of these last days. Don't be tricked by those who misquote that verse!
Below is another example of a hypocrite who judges others while they are guilty of doing the same thing:
Rom 2
1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
These verses go along with the verses quoted in Matt 7:1-5. It is very important for a person to first judge themselves to make sure they are not guilty of the same sins.
Here is another verse where the Lord commands His people to judge themselves:
2 Cor 13
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
All the above verses do not forbid judging sin or false teachers. The only admonition given is to judge yourself so you are not a hypocrite.
Next lets move on and look at more detail at what the Bible says about judging.
WE ARE COMMANDED TO JUDGE
God expects and commands His people to judge false teaching and to reject wolves and false teachers. Read the below verses:
1 Cor 6
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
Look closely at the above verses. Verse 1 indicates that issues are to be brought to the saints of God for judgment.
Verse 2 gives a hint of our future lives and position in Christ. God's people will be assisting in judging the world. Because of this fact God expects His people to make judgments within the local assembly of believers.
Verse 3 and 4 goes on and states that one day we will make judgments concerning the angels of God. If this is so then we are more than qualified to make judgments regarding issues in this life! Verse 5 states that the wise will be able to judge between good and evil. Those who cannot or will not judge are not wise.
1 John 4
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
The above verse is a command to God's people. We are commanded not to believe every spirit. This means do not believe every wind of teaching you hear. We are commanded to "try" or test the spirits. This means we are to test all teaching with the Word of God. This will allow God's people to see if the teaching is from God or not. By testing the for a false prophet, judgments must be made between right and wrong doctrine.
A further warning is given that many false prophets and teachers are in the world. These false prophets will be teaching and spreading heresies that deny the foundations of the Christian faith. God's people are commanded to:
1) do not believe all that you hear
2) put all teaching to the test. This means use the Bible to judge if the teaching is true or not! Use the Bible to judge between true and false teaching.
Eph 5
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
God's people are to prove what is acceptable unto the Lord. This involves making a judgment between right and wrong. We prove the teaching is true or false by using the Bible as our guideline.
Verse 11 says we are to reject and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. This also involves judging between right and wrong. As a result of our judgment we are to have no fellowship with evil.
Finally in verse 11 we are told to reprove evil. This means we are to openly oppose and reject evil works and teachers. Once judgment has been made we are to publicly expose and reject false teaching and false teachers.
Remember this is a command to judge and to reprove false teachers and their teachings. Disobedient people who tolerate evil will refuse to judge it. Instead they will misquote Matt 7:1 and say: "Don't judge". Beware of such people!
Rom 12
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
One must judge evil to abhor it. Judgment must be made to determine evil and to determine good. Once that judgment has been made the above verse commands God's people to abhor the evil. This means to reject and have nothing to do with that which is evil.
1 Thess 5
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Above is another command to judge and reject evil. God's people prove (test) all things with the Holy Bible. As a result of judging between good and evil we are commanded to hold fast to the good while abstaining from evil.
John 7
24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
God's people are commanded to make judgments. The above verse commands the use of righteous judgment. Righteous judgment has the following characteristics:
1) First the person judges himself so he is not a hypocrite
2) The Bible is used as the foundation of right vs wrong.
JUDGING EVIL EXPOSES SATAN'S SERVANTS AND PROTECTS GOD'S PEOPLE
Judgment is essential for the spiritual health of the Christian or the local assembly. Once evil or false teaching is judged, it is to be rejected and removed.
Rom 16
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
False teachers deny the foundations of the Christian faith. They seek to cause divisions and create offenses. God's people are to identify false teachers and avoid them. By avoiding the false teacher a person is protecting himself. Do not attend a church where the pastor is a false teacher or where false teachers are accepted. By marking (judging) the false teacher, a Christian can then avoid the wolf. This is a command and is given for the protection of God's people.
Verse 18 illustrates how evil and dangerous the false teacher really is. By judging the false teacher, they can be easily marked, avoided, and rejected. Only simple and foolish people refuse to judge and as a result they are easily deceived by wolves and false teachers. In fact, people who refuse to judge evil are simple minded people! Just look at verse 18 above! Wolves are able to deceive the hearts of the simple minded.
1 Cor 5
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
If a professing Christian is doing evil he is to be judged from within the Christian church. Part of that judgment is to cast the wicked person from your midst. Christians are commanded to make judgments against evil and evil doers. Verse 12 commands Christians to judge them that are within. This means we are to judge those who profess to be Christians. If they are deceivers then they are to be rejected.
2 Thess 3
14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Here is another command to judge. If a person does evil he is to be disciplined. Judgment is required. If the situation deserves it, God's people are to have no fellowship with that person. The goal is to admonish him so he will turn away from whatever evil he has been involved in. The secondary goal of casting out a wicked person is to protect God's church assembly from corruption by a wicked person.
2 John 1
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Verse 7 above warns that there are many deceivers in the world. These deceivers deny the Lord Jesus Christ. They deny His deity (Jesus is God manifest in human flesh). They deny the Trinity and other foundational Christian doctrines.
Verse 10 and 11 clearly call for judgment and action taken against a deceiver and a false teacher. They are not to be invited inside the Christian church. In fact, they are to be judged and cast out!
Here are some other points made about judging:
- those who refuse to judge are encouraging evil
- those who refuse to judge are assisting thhe evil doer.
- Those who attend and support liberal churcches are supporting and encouraging evil.
- Every penny given to a deceiver, a liberall church, or the ministry of a wolf and false teacher is to encourage and prosper evil. It is being a partaker with Satan in the attack against God. Christians really need to make sound Biblical judgments so they can reject wolves and their ministries. Do not support them in any way!
Rev 2
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
When God's people judge evil doers they soon find they do not want them in their midst. Judging evil results in evil being removed. When a person and his doctrine is judged by the Word of God, they can be easily found to be liars and self-centered deceivers! Those people are to be rejected.
1 Cor 10
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
Idolatry is a very evil sin before the Lord. By using righteous judgment, God's people are able to discern the evil and to flee from it.
Verse 15 indicates that the wise will use judgments. Wise men do not blindly accept every wind of teaching. A wise person compares teaching with the Word of God and then rejects the evil and accepts the good. Wise servants of God judge all teachings and teachers by the Word of God. Foolish people and deceivers quote Matt 7:1 out of context and they justify evil.
2 Tim 3
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
In the last days there will be terrible conditions on the earth. Guess what? We are in those last days right now! Judgment concerning evil is needed so Christians can turn away and reject evil. Without judging good from evil a Christian cannot discern and turn away from a deceiver. Remember, the simple minded refuse to judge and are easily deceived!
Matt 7
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
This is another warning about the numbers of false prophets in the world. There will be many of them and they will be like a wolf dressed up like a sheep. This means they will look like a Christian. They will sound like a Christian and they will want you to believe they are Christian. However, they are false teaching liars and wolves. These men are phonies who are just servants of Satan. Judgment is required to spot and reject these wolves.
The above verses tell God's people to look at the fruit produced in their lives. But if a person refuses to judge...
- How can a person beware of a false prophett if he refuses to judge?
- How can one know good fruit from bad fruitt if they refuse to judge?
(Continued Below!)
By Alan Yusko
Has this ever happened to you? You give a warning to someone about a false teacher that denies one or more foundational doctrines of the Christian faith. Rather than listen the person gets angry. He begins to quote the Bible as he give you a rebuke. You are told that it is wrong to judge because the Bible says ... judge not lest you be judged. The person then snubs his nose and goes on with their life and continues to listen to the false teacher.
Over the years I have heard one verse in the Bible misquoted more than any other verse. That verse can be found in Matthew chapter 7 verse 1: Judge not, that ye be not judged. People use that verse to excuse and defend all kinds of evil. People are literally attacked and called all kinds of nasty names because they dared to warn about something that is wrong and sinful before God.
This is a very sad example to illustrate that fact. I had that verse used recently against me by someone who wished to defend their use and enjoyment of the occult. This person loved Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings and thought I had no right so say the occult was evil and an abomination before the Lord. This person quoted Matt 7:1 to me and then said I was wrongly condemning and judging all kinds of people because of my stand on the occult. Little did this person realize they were misquoting the Bible and showing their sin-loving and blackened God rejecting heart as they attempted to correct me by twisting the Bible. All this person tried to do is to justify their love of the occult. They loved Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. They had no intention on giving up occult evil and repenting before the Lord.
The occult is very evil and there is no excuse for anyone who belongs to the Lord to be involved in it. Simply put, those who enjoy the occult are not saved and do not belong to God. Only a Christ rejecting heart could love the sin filled abominations of the world of the occult. Sadly I have heard Matt 7:1 misquoted to justify all kinds of sin and false teachers. Believe me, the occult is only one of the many ways I have heard Matt 7:1 misquoted to justify sin and false teaching.
In this article we will address the issue about judging. Does Matt 7:1 really mean that a Christian should never judge anything? Are people rightly quoting the Bible when they forbid people to judge? Should Christians accept all kinds of sin and evil because it is wrong to make any judgments about right and wrong? Should false teaching be allowed to go unchallenged because it is wrong to judge? Should Christians support wolves and false teachers and attend liberal doctrine denying churches because they are not supposed to be judgmental. Is judging evil and false teaching also being unloving, narrow-minded, legalistic, or a Pharisee?
These issues are before the truly saved Christian today in these last evil days before the return of the Lord Jesus. It is hoped that this article will encourage and build up God's people so they will fearlessly defend the faith from all attacks from the devil and his children. The devil's crowd loves to use Matt 7:1 out of context as evil is prospering in these last days before the return of the Lord Jesus. Don't be deceived! Stand against and judge evil because Christians are commanded to do so!
WRONGLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH
Lets start by looking at the verse that is constantly being misquoted in its proper context:
Matt 7
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
The above verses are addressed to a hypocrite who went around judging people of doing evil when he was doing the same things. Just look at verse 3 and 4. Do not judge another person before judging yourself. A good example would be a bank robber. A person who robs banks for a living should not go around judging other people who robs banks. How about this real-time example. Remember the TV evangelist who judged another TV evangelist for sleeping with another women then paying her hush money. The first evangelist was seeing prostitutes while he was judging the other TV evangelist! Only a hypocrite would judge another person while he is guilty of doing the same thing! This is why the above verses first tell a person to judge themselves. Once that is done, one can judge and help others. In its proper context Matt 7:1 does not say it is wrong to judge. Instead it is saying to first judge yourself!
In order to understand Matt 7:1 the entire context must be read. Most people quote verse 1 and ignore the rest of the verses. There is a name for taking a Bible verse out of context. That word is called twisting the Scriptures. Misquoting Matt 7:1 is perverting the Scriptures. Taking a verse out of its setting and building a doctrine around it is deceptive and not rightly dividing the word of God! When one looks at verses 1 - 5 it can be easily seen that we are to judge things.
Let me repeat myself. Verses 1 through 5 gives a foundation rule for judging. The rule is this: First judge yourself before judging another. There is nothing wrong with judging as long as you have first judged yourself!
People use Matt 7:1 out of context to justify evil and things that God hates. By ripping verse 1 out of context professing Christians (tares) justify the occult, rock music, false religions, and heresies. Wrongly using Matt 7:1 to justify evil is one of the great deceptions of these last days. Don't be tricked by those who misquote that verse!
Below is another example of a hypocrite who judges others while they are guilty of doing the same thing:
Rom 2
1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
These verses go along with the verses quoted in Matt 7:1-5. It is very important for a person to first judge themselves to make sure they are not guilty of the same sins.
Here is another verse where the Lord commands His people to judge themselves:
2 Cor 13
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
All the above verses do not forbid judging sin or false teachers. The only admonition given is to judge yourself so you are not a hypocrite.
Next lets move on and look at more detail at what the Bible says about judging.
WE ARE COMMANDED TO JUDGE
God expects and commands His people to judge false teaching and to reject wolves and false teachers. Read the below verses:
1 Cor 6
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
Look closely at the above verses. Verse 1 indicates that issues are to be brought to the saints of God for judgment.
Verse 2 gives a hint of our future lives and position in Christ. God's people will be assisting in judging the world. Because of this fact God expects His people to make judgments within the local assembly of believers.
Verse 3 and 4 goes on and states that one day we will make judgments concerning the angels of God. If this is so then we are more than qualified to make judgments regarding issues in this life! Verse 5 states that the wise will be able to judge between good and evil. Those who cannot or will not judge are not wise.
1 John 4
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
The above verse is a command to God's people. We are commanded not to believe every spirit. This means do not believe every wind of teaching you hear. We are commanded to "try" or test the spirits. This means we are to test all teaching with the Word of God. This will allow God's people to see if the teaching is from God or not. By testing the for a false prophet, judgments must be made between right and wrong doctrine.
A further warning is given that many false prophets and teachers are in the world. These false prophets will be teaching and spreading heresies that deny the foundations of the Christian faith. God's people are commanded to:
1) do not believe all that you hear
2) put all teaching to the test. This means use the Bible to judge if the teaching is true or not! Use the Bible to judge between true and false teaching.
Eph 5
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
God's people are to prove what is acceptable unto the Lord. This involves making a judgment between right and wrong. We prove the teaching is true or false by using the Bible as our guideline.
Verse 11 says we are to reject and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. This also involves judging between right and wrong. As a result of our judgment we are to have no fellowship with evil.
Finally in verse 11 we are told to reprove evil. This means we are to openly oppose and reject evil works and teachers. Once judgment has been made we are to publicly expose and reject false teaching and false teachers.
Remember this is a command to judge and to reprove false teachers and their teachings. Disobedient people who tolerate evil will refuse to judge it. Instead they will misquote Matt 7:1 and say: "Don't judge". Beware of such people!
Rom 12
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
One must judge evil to abhor it. Judgment must be made to determine evil and to determine good. Once that judgment has been made the above verse commands God's people to abhor the evil. This means to reject and have nothing to do with that which is evil.
1 Thess 5
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Above is another command to judge and reject evil. God's people prove (test) all things with the Holy Bible. As a result of judging between good and evil we are commanded to hold fast to the good while abstaining from evil.
John 7
24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
God's people are commanded to make judgments. The above verse commands the use of righteous judgment. Righteous judgment has the following characteristics:
1) First the person judges himself so he is not a hypocrite
2) The Bible is used as the foundation of right vs wrong.
JUDGING EVIL EXPOSES SATAN'S SERVANTS AND PROTECTS GOD'S PEOPLE
Judgment is essential for the spiritual health of the Christian or the local assembly. Once evil or false teaching is judged, it is to be rejected and removed.
Rom 16
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
False teachers deny the foundations of the Christian faith. They seek to cause divisions and create offenses. God's people are to identify false teachers and avoid them. By avoiding the false teacher a person is protecting himself. Do not attend a church where the pastor is a false teacher or where false teachers are accepted. By marking (judging) the false teacher, a Christian can then avoid the wolf. This is a command and is given for the protection of God's people.
Verse 18 illustrates how evil and dangerous the false teacher really is. By judging the false teacher, they can be easily marked, avoided, and rejected. Only simple and foolish people refuse to judge and as a result they are easily deceived by wolves and false teachers. In fact, people who refuse to judge evil are simple minded people! Just look at verse 18 above! Wolves are able to deceive the hearts of the simple minded.
1 Cor 5
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
If a professing Christian is doing evil he is to be judged from within the Christian church. Part of that judgment is to cast the wicked person from your midst. Christians are commanded to make judgments against evil and evil doers. Verse 12 commands Christians to judge them that are within. This means we are to judge those who profess to be Christians. If they are deceivers then they are to be rejected.
2 Thess 3
14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Here is another command to judge. If a person does evil he is to be disciplined. Judgment is required. If the situation deserves it, God's people are to have no fellowship with that person. The goal is to admonish him so he will turn away from whatever evil he has been involved in. The secondary goal of casting out a wicked person is to protect God's church assembly from corruption by a wicked person.
2 John 1
7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Verse 7 above warns that there are many deceivers in the world. These deceivers deny the Lord Jesus Christ. They deny His deity (Jesus is God manifest in human flesh). They deny the Trinity and other foundational Christian doctrines.
Verse 10 and 11 clearly call for judgment and action taken against a deceiver and a false teacher. They are not to be invited inside the Christian church. In fact, they are to be judged and cast out!
Here are some other points made about judging:
- those who refuse to judge are encouraging evil
- those who refuse to judge are assisting thhe evil doer.
- Those who attend and support liberal churcches are supporting and encouraging evil.
- Every penny given to a deceiver, a liberall church, or the ministry of a wolf and false teacher is to encourage and prosper evil. It is being a partaker with Satan in the attack against God. Christians really need to make sound Biblical judgments so they can reject wolves and their ministries. Do not support them in any way!
Rev 2
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
When God's people judge evil doers they soon find they do not want them in their midst. Judging evil results in evil being removed. When a person and his doctrine is judged by the Word of God, they can be easily found to be liars and self-centered deceivers! Those people are to be rejected.
1 Cor 10
14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
Idolatry is a very evil sin before the Lord. By using righteous judgment, God's people are able to discern the evil and to flee from it.
Verse 15 indicates that the wise will use judgments. Wise men do not blindly accept every wind of teaching. A wise person compares teaching with the Word of God and then rejects the evil and accepts the good. Wise servants of God judge all teachings and teachers by the Word of God. Foolish people and deceivers quote Matt 7:1 out of context and they justify evil.
2 Tim 3
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
In the last days there will be terrible conditions on the earth. Guess what? We are in those last days right now! Judgment concerning evil is needed so Christians can turn away and reject evil. Without judging good from evil a Christian cannot discern and turn away from a deceiver. Remember, the simple minded refuse to judge and are easily deceived!
Matt 7
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
This is another warning about the numbers of false prophets in the world. There will be many of them and they will be like a wolf dressed up like a sheep. This means they will look like a Christian. They will sound like a Christian and they will want you to believe they are Christian. However, they are false teaching liars and wolves. These men are phonies who are just servants of Satan. Judgment is required to spot and reject these wolves.
The above verses tell God's people to look at the fruit produced in their lives. But if a person refuses to judge...
- How can a person beware of a false prophett if he refuses to judge?
- How can one know good fruit from bad fruitt if they refuse to judge?
(Continued Below!)
