JUDGE NOT?

Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

For centuries the most quoted verse of the Bible was John 3:16; but not any longer, at least not for this young generation that is coming up in this world. Do you know which Bible verse they quote the most? The one we just read, Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, that ye be not judged".

Why do you think that this is the most popular verse today? Because if it is pulled from context it can be used to justify their doctrines of relevant truth and relevant morality. Which basically means there is no absolute truth and there is no absolute moral standard, thus we cannot judge the actions, lifestyles and doctrines of others.

In this theory of relevant truth and relevant morality truth and morals stand upon belief. It is basically "I believe thus it is so" or "I do not believe it, thus it is not". For example, I have witnessed to people of this younger generation before about Christ, and they have told me, "That is true for you but that is not true for me". They have told me, "I do not believe in hell, therefore it does not exist". And they have said, "That may be sin for you, but I do not believe in sin, so it is not sin for me".

There is a popular saying going through the Churches today and it goes like this: "God said it, I believe it, and that settles it". What is wrong with that statement? It raises the 'believing it', to the level of 'God said it'. You see if God said it, that settles it if you believe it or not; but not for this generation.

One Pastor asked a group of youth pastors why the Bible was true. The top youth pastor raised his hand and said: "Because I believe it". The preacher asked him, "If the Muslim believes the Koran is true, does it make it true?" The youth pastor replied: "Yes".

Friends our beliefs does not effect the truthfulness of something. Either the Bible is true or it is false. If the Bible is true then our beliefs about it can in no way change the truthfulness of it. If something is a lie, then it doesn't matter how sincerely we believe it, it will always be a lie.

HOW ABOUT MORALS?

Who decides what is morally right and what is morally wrong for this young generation? Well of course, they do. Morality is decided by their beliefs. If they do not believe sex before marriage is sinful, then to them it is not sinful. If they do not believe lying is sinful, then to them it is not sinful. Everyman, according to their teaching, should do what is right in their own eyes and no one has the right to judge if they are doing right or wrong. The Bible talks about a time like this in the past.

Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

You see this generation is denying that there is a King, they are denying that there is a GOD. Even those who say they believe in a God, do not believe that this God has a moral code or standard.

But you see friends, if there is a God [and there definitely is], then he is the one who decides what is wrong and what is right, man cannot determine this by his own heart, for the heart of man is deceitful and foolish and wicked.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

THE LOST OF DISCERNMENT.

Basically what has happened to this generation is they have lost their discernment. They have lost the ability to judge between the likes of the Preacher D.L. Moody and Hitler. Both men did what they believed was right, so according to this generation both were righteous.

How about the shooter at Virginia Tech? He did what was right in his eyes when he killed thirty-two people, he did that which he believed was right. He was bold enough to give his life for what he believed; and he should be the hero and poster-boy for the Public School Systems and this national mind set!

You see friends the doctrines of relevant truth and relevant morality leads to anarchy, to depravation and ultimately to death. And it is becoming the down fall of the Christian Churches today. How is that homosexuals are being ordained in the ministry? How is it that twenty five percent of Evangelicals are living in fornication? Why is the divorce rate in the Christian Church higher than in the world? Because the doctrines of relevant truth and morality has crept into the Church. But God calls us to put a difference between what is right and what is wrong.

Ezekiel 44:23-24 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.

WHAT THIS VERSE MEANS

A. We do not judge by tradition.

Matthew 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

The Pharisees condemned the disciples of Christ for not following their tradition, this was not a legitimate judgment. Men are not bound to follow the traditions of men, but rather the words of God. [See Matthew 15:3-9]

B. We do not judge as hypocrites.

Romans 2:21-24 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

It is wrong for men to judge and condemn others for practicing sin that you are guilty of yourself. The Bible says to first remove the beam from your own eye that you might pluck the spec from your brother's eye.

C. We do not judge after the flesh.

2nd Corinthians 5:16-17 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

We do not judge people about their past, when people come to Christ they become a new creation and the old things are done away. Only Satan brings up and condemns men for their lifestyle before they are saved. Let the prostitutes, drug addicts, and drunkards come to Christ, and they shall be transformed into the likeness of Christ, and shall be recognized just as righteous as the man who has been a devout Christian for forty years.

D. We do not judge over matters of the conscience.

Colossians 2:16-17 ¶ Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Romans 14:3-6 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Some things are a matter of conscience and are not clearly defined as wrong by the Word of God. In these matters the brethren have their liberty. Yet we do not have the liberty to judge one another over these things. If a man chooses to be vegan, he should not condemn them that eat meat, and those who eat meat should not judge the weaker brother who eats only plants.

D. We do not condemn.

Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

It is also wise not to condemn men to hell, who knows if they did not repent in their hearts before they died, as the thief on the cross. Also we should not condemn brothers as sinners over one sin. King David failed miserably and sinned grievously, yet he had known the Lord before and knew him after. Today men would have judged David to have been a false prophet and would had rejected all he said before the incident. True brethren sometimes fall into sin, but they cannot continue in them. Like David they will repent and be restored. It is those who refuse to repent and ever live in sin that prove themselves to be false brethren.

WHAT THIS VERSE DOES NOT MEAN.

A. It does not mean that the Church is not to discern.

How is Christ to judge? Acts 17:31 ...he will judge the world in righteousness

How is the Church to Judge? John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

What is the standard of righteousness and judgment? John 12:48 ... the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

"Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever." – Psalms 119:160

With the Word what do we discern? Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

What are we to discern? 1 Corinthians 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

Clearly the Church is to discern or judge everything by the Word of God to see it is good or if it is evil. For example: If we turn on the television and it has a movie promoting fornication, we should judge immediately that this movie [like 99 percent of all movies] is evil.

B. The Church is to reprove.

What was Jesus called? John 8:12 ...I am the light of the world:

As the light of the world what did he do? John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

John 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

Who is the light of the world now? Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

The believer receives the Spirit of Christ at conversion and as they let Christ live through them they shine a light into this dark world.

What is one of the chief works of the Spirit? John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

What will the Church thus do? Ephesians 5:11-13 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

The Church not is to discern between right and wrong, but it is to reprove the wrong. It is to declare sin by its right name.

C. The Church is to rebuke.

1 Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Not only are we to reprove but we are to rebuke them in the Church who sin. We are to show them their sin and then rebuke them.

D. The Church is to discipline.

1st Corinthians 5:1-5 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1st Corinthians 5:11-13 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. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Those in the Church who will not repent after being rebuked are to be disciplined by the Church. If these clear directions were carried out by the Churches today you would not have 25% of Evangelicals living in fornication, and not a single pastor who were homosexual.