To Judge or Not to Judge Part 2
What we must judge.
Matthew 12:33 (NASB95)
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.
The fruit reveals the heart.
1 Corinthians 5:3 (NASB95)
3 For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.
Paul did not have to be present to judge the bragging, blatantly immoral person in the church in Corinth, because the fruit of their actions was evident and even being paraded about. And then he directs the Corinthian church to judge him also.
1 Corinthians 5:12–13 (NASB95)
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13 But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
When we sin, our Christian brothers and sisters have an obligation to judge us. It is the most loving thing to do to call someone to repentance that is on the always destructive path of sin. It is messy and hard to do, but it is the necessary work of grace.
Romans 2:4 (NASB95)
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
And the only thing that makes it worse is when we choose being offended, rather than receiving repentance and restoration. But that is the goal, not to catch someone in their sin, but stand with them as they trust in Christ to help them overcome it. And in the end, the rebellious sinner in Corinth was restored.
2 Corinthians 2:6–8 (NASB95)
6 Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, 7 so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.
The goal is always loving restoration.
I love you, Pastor Randy