Judgment in the Church

Judgment in the Church

“Do you not [only] judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore put away from yourselves the evil person.” 1 Cor. 5:12-13.

Wherever a spiritual church grows up, there will be much to correct and to judge “inside.” However, the lust to judge is one of the sins we bring with us from the world—one of the sins which so easily ensnares us and which must be plucked up by the roots. As soon as God gives a person some light, he begins to use that light to judge and expose other people’s shortcomings. This judgment is usually harsh and unjust, because in this light he does not possess the anointing that knows all things. 1 John 2:20.

God doesn’t give us light for the purpose of judging others, but for judging ourselves. For “if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” Only when sin has been cleansed away by walking in the light can we possess the anointing that knows all things. In other words, we do not know everything in this initial light and can therefore only use it to judge ourselves, not the others. That is why the Scriptures say, “I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?” 1 Cor. 6:5.

It takes a wise man to judge those who are “inside.” The Corinthians were enriched in everything: in faith, in speech, in knowledge and in all diligence (2 Cor. 8:7), but Paul had to say to their shame that there was not one wise man among them who was able to judge between his brethren.

There is a certain lust in the flesh to begin judging those who are inside as soon as one receives light and knowledge. However, this judgment is worthless because it is not a judgment that comes from the anointing. The judgment in the light does not include grace; but he who judges according to the anointing has judged himself first. Therefore he knows what it is like to be judged and how it feels, and he has a compassion that a person who has not judged himself cannot possess because he has never been tested.

We cannot know all things with light and knowledge alone, because there is still sin that has to be cleansed away. But in the anointing we know all things and can therefore make righteous judgments—judgments that include the grace that always accompanies the judgments of Christ. To God, the Lord, belong escapes from death. Ps. 68:20. If a person only judges according to his own light, there is no way of escape, because the flesh, with the law of sin in its members, contaminates the judgment, thus making it unjust.

“Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.” James 4:11.

Speaking evil of your brother is also a way of judging, but when you do that, you come under the judgment of the law, and you need to be cleansed through the forgiveness of sins. The lust to judge defiles the person who judges, and the judgment that was to benefit the church fails to materialize.

If this was the case in the days of the Corinthians who—in spite of their tremendous giftedness in speech, knowledge and zeal—lacked the wisdom to judge inside, then we can be certain that the same is true today. Think of this when you want to judge, so that your judgment will not fall back on your own head.

There are many instructors in Christ, but not many fathers. 1 Cor. 4:15. Such instructors certainly like to be involved with passing judgment. However, I believe that I have the backing of the Scriptures, and the testimony of God confirms it all the more, so I dare to say: Wait to pass judgment until you have begotten spiritual children yourself, and practice your judgments first on them before you go further.