SINNERS JUDGING OTHER SINNERS

Many well-meaning Christians often confess:

·       I struggle daily with my own sins. How then can I judge or speak against the things that others are doing?

First of all, the Bible instructs us to judge behaviors. We are to judge our children and punish them accordingly. Judges are to judge those who have been tried and found guilty. Even the Church is to judge and perhaps even excommunicate unrepentant sinners. Judging is even something that we personally are commanded to do:

·       If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets [perhaps: provides hospitality to] him takes part in his wicked works. (2 John 1:10-11 ESV)

·       Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (Galatians 6:1-3)

Of course, this messy activity of judging can only be performed by those who are spiritual, who have first judged themselves by confessing their sins and repenting. Consequently, we too must “keep watch” on ourselves, because we are capable of falling into similar sins. This means that we have to be self-examining and humble. Jesus taught as much:

·       “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5)

When we judge others but first do not judge ourselves, we are blind hypocrites. Therefore, we first have to apply the spotlight on ourselves and confess and repent of our own blinding sins. However, if we live according to this rule, we will then be able to see clearly enough to correct our brother in a constructive manner.

But judge we must. Our Lord holds the Church accountable when it fails to judge correctly and censured two churches for failing to do this:

·       “But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.” (Revelation 2:14, 20)

In contrast, the Church of Ephesus had been commended because it did judge and wouldn’t tolerate sin in their midst:

·       “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.” (Revelation 2:2-3)

Too often, today’s Church has taken the path-of-least-resistance and has turned a blind-eye away from sexual sin, incurring our Lord’s displeasure. It has placed its feet on a slippery slope. Once it allows one sin, it no longer has the authority to stand against any sins and becomes the hypocrite when it tries to do so. This is why Paul had warned that a little leaven (yeast, sin) will leaven (transform) the entire loaf (Galatians 5:9; 1 Corinthians 5:6; 15:33). Consequently, we find that the loaf, the Church, is becoming increasingly compromised, losing its light and voice in the process.

We must and can speak the light of truth once we practice confession and repentance:

·       If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)

Daily, we are afflicted by temptations and sins. However, once we sincerely confess our sins – and this entails our willingness and commitment to turn from them – we are not only forgiven but are also completely cleansed and given a fresh start.

Job had sinned. He brought numerous angry accusations against God. However, after God humbled him, and Job sincerely repented twice, we find that Job had been wiped entirely clean of his sins. Then God confronted his three “friends” regarding their sin:

·       After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” (Job 42:7-8)

Job’s repentance had cancelled out every accusation that he had made against God, and he was fully restored. Consequently, twice God said that Job had spoken correctly about Him. He even required that the three friends to solicit Job’s prayer in order for them to be restored. Once we are restored, we too can and must minister to others.