I was reading through 1 Corinthians today and came across a startling passage… and it is partly startling because I had just visited some of my bookmarked blogs to see what those professing faith in Christ are up to. One of the last blogs I read shared a letter from a reader who was apparently concerned about the idea of Christians judging other Christians. There is a persistent argument among believers (and non-believers, too) that Christians are not supposed to judge others… because Jesus Christ said something to that affect in Matthew 7 — “Do not judge, lest you be judged by the same standard.” Some people trumpet this verse without putting the entire passage in context and studying what Jesus Christ was trying to teach against — hypocrisy. If you read Romans 2, you will see how Paul expounds upon Jesus’ words even further in warning against hypocrites judging others.

Romans 2:1Romans 2:1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
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.  

WP-Bible plugin Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

GOD teaches HIS children through the Holy Scriptures that we must indeed be properly equipped and wise in discernment, another term for judgment. We must be able to judge ourselves rightly (i.e., whether our thoughts, deeds and words line up with the holy standards GOD requires of us) and we must be able to judge whether the thoughts, deeds and words of our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus also line up with GOD’s holy standards. If GOD makes us witness to a brother or sister’s failings, we are required to go to that brother and sister and discuss this error, whether it be against us personally or against GOD (and indeed, sinning against a brother or sister is also an offense to the FATHER).

Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:15Matthew 18:15
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.  

WP-Bible plugin “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. …”

We are instructed to confront one another peacefully and in love when we are in error, and if the party in error refuses to realize his/her wrong, then others should get involved to lend support to the argument against the party in error. If then, the person in error still refuses to heed sound reason, then the church is called on to get involved… and if the person in error still refuses to repent, then he/she must be put out of the assembly and have no part with the church.