It’s easy to look at others, and think of where they need to change, or of what you believe they are doing wrong, & to make observations of them from an “elevated” position, this is a form of judgement.
Some make the statement that we’re not to judge.
But the Word of God states that there is place for judgement: Saints are instructed to humbly make judgements of our fellow brothers & sisters in Christ, even to the point of withdrawing from anyone called brother who isn’t walking according to the Word, but we’re not given authority to speak against them;
James 4:11
“Speak* not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaks evil of his 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.”.
The term used here “Speak* not evil one of another” is from the Greek word Kataleleo*: to speak against someone, to talk them down, to speak ill of them, to slander, traduce.
The term Withdraw: To cease keeping company with, as opposed to maintaining full fellowship; so that one “called brother” would be related to with less communication and closeness, even to the point of not eating with such, as directed in:
1 Corinthians 5:9-13,
“I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must you needs go out of the world. 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 idolator, 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 you judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judges. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”,
Note the distinction of the term used in 1 Cor 5…”One called brother”, as directing a different relationship with one who professes faith in God through Christ but who is practising a life contrary to the instruction of scripture, compared to how we’re to relate to a person who hasn’t known Christ as saviour, with such a one (a non-Christian), we’re to share the Gospel, otherwise if we withdrew from such, the Gospel wouldn’t be spread, but we’re not to partake of their works…
Although the Word instructs to “take no forethought for the flesh” Romans 13:14, and Romans 6:6 states; “…Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.“, the flesh doesn’t give up easily, it wants to be a part of our day whenever it can! It wants to make me feel as though I don’t have to be fully rid of it, it tells me I’ll be more comfortable if I allow it a bit of room, and it uses many excuses and means of distraction to keep me from examining myself, so that I don’t change to be more like Christ.
One of the means the flesh employs to keep me from examining myself, is to focus on the wrongs of others, it’s a way of being “legitimately occupied”; this term is used, because the grounds for action that follows, is The Law. By applying The Law to others, (just as the Pharisees did) the flesh raises the perspective of self to a “holier position”.
The law is quoted through scripture, both old and new, and it has application to unrighteous persons: ref:
1 Timothy 1:9 “knowing this, that law has not its application to a righteous person, but to lawless and insubordinate, to impious and sinful, to [the] unholy and profane, …,”.
and Romans 13 speaks of the governments which have been established by God, having been given authority to apply The Law as is appropriate, and they can apply it , because God has authorised them to do so. God’s government is also represented within the Church, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6, Acts 20:28, Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:7, Titus 1:5. From this then, it’s clear that the law is still operative, but it’s to be applied by men acting in humility, as instructed in The Word, subject to God’s wisdom; Ref: Galatians 6:1
When the flesh focuses my attention on others instead of myself, by saying:
– “They’re causing trouble, look at them…”
– “He/She is clearly wrong, but your doing fine.”
– “How can They do that?”
– “If only more people knew just how wrong They are…”
– “I’m not as bad as Them!”
Christ said:
“He that’s without sin among you, let him first cast a stone…” John 8:7
I need to examine myself by The Word, & consider where my words & choices are taking me.
It’s easy to listen to ministry or read The Word, and apply the words to another person; take for example Deuteronomy 32:39
“Oh that they had been wise!
They would have understood this,
They would have considered their latter end!“
In its historical context, God spoke these words through the prophet, regarding the children of Israel.
It wouldn’t take long to think of applying it to someone you may know, young or old. but greater value is achieved by applying the passage to myself, as follows…
Oh that I had been wise!
I would have understood this,
I would have considered my latter end!
or the preferable application of it in a paraphrased version from an obedient servant, could be:
By God’s grace, I’ve been made wise!
By obeying my Lord’s instruction, I understood this,
and have made subsequent decisions in submission to God,
as I considered my latter end!
Proverbs 9:10 states…“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” & Galatians 6:8 “For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
Because the flesh doesn’t operate with God’s wisdom, it suffers from its own blindness! It seldom cares to consider accountability for the pending disaster that follows from it’s selfish action, and in its own depraved rationale, it digs a deeper hole for itself; then, if left to pursue it’s way, it will eventually fulfil it’s depraved desires to it’s own final destruction, of which, each individual will have to give an account to God. Rom 14:12
We’re told in 2Corinthians 13:5 “examine your own selves if you’re in the faith; prove your own selves: …” The word “examine” is translated from the Greek word πειράζω,
Transliteration: peirazō,
Phonetic: pi-rad’-zo,
It’s described in Strong’s, as: to test (objectively), that is, endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline: – assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt (-er), try.
The same word is used in 1Co 11:28 “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” The responsibility here also, is for the one taking the elements, to examine himself, he’s not told to examine others, just himself!
The word “prove”, is from the Greek: δοκιμάζω
Transliteration: dokimazō. Phonetic: dok-im-ad’-zo
Thayer Definition:
1. to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see if a thing is genuine or not), as metals
2. to recognise as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy.
The focus on both occasions, is self-examination or judgement,
There are occasions to judge others, but not according to our perception of their motive, but only on their actions & words; the scripture clearly states that there are such occasions; some as mentioned earlier herein, but the scripture prioritises self-judgement before judgement of others in matters of less critical consideration of wrongs:
Matthew 7:5 “…first cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then you shall see clearly to cast out the mote out of your brother’s eye.”
1 Corinthians 11:”For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”
In Proverbs 6:10-11, the word speaks of the result which come from a lack of self-discipline
“Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall your poverty come as one that travels, and your want as an armed man.“
This warning, is contrasted with the encouragement of the result of obedience, as expressed in Proverbs 24:3-4
“Through wisdom a house is built; and by understanding it‘s established: And by knowledge the chambers shall be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.“
Self-examination & judgement, is a discipline contrary to what the flesh would have, and when coupled with appreciation of the love of God toward us, it results in the peaceful fruit of righteousness. The flesh works on many angles to separate us from the love of God, one result of submitting to the flesh’s desires, is that it makes us feel totally unworthy to approach God. Adam & Eve were the first to experience this, when they “hid” from God in the garden after taking the fruit, but God sought them out, and in His love, He made clothing to cover their nakedness, so also, God desires us to be restored to full fellowship despite our feeling of shame. Christ has borne the penalty of our sin, and ever lives to intercede for us before our Heavenly Father:
Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
I pray that we judge ourselves by the measure of Christ, and fulfill our responsibilities as vessels to honour, serviceable to our Master.
2 Timothy 2:21 “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared for every good work.”
Study like a Berean! 