To Judge or Not to Judge – Romans 14:1-4

 Nearly everyone here tonight has had to pass judgment on things throughout this day. What should I wear today, since I am going to House of the Lord? Does this blouse match this skirt? I would say, “Does this shirt match these slacks,” but most men don’t care about that sort of thing. You may have been driving to church, and the stop light turned yellow: “Should I run this light?” At our pot luck lunch you passed judgment on the food that was offered. We constantly have to judge which responsibility comes first and which is second. Is this an appropriate entertainment for someone who is a child of God? Who is offering me this choice, the Lord or the Devil? Is this thing a sin and temptation, or just a test of my spirituality, or both? You and I are commanded to follow that which is good, and to eschew that which evil. In order to do that we have to judge between those things. You are also commanded: “Mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them” – Romans 16:17. How can you obey the Lord in this if you can’t judge those people? And yet there in this scripture we are basically told not to judge other servants of God. Confusing!

Judging others has been made to be a sacred cow by our liberal neighbors. They defy us to sacrifice this cow, in hopes that we will try but accidentally slice our own throats. “Don’t judge that Christian, no matter how wrong he might appear to be! Don’t talk about the sins of the TV preacher! Don’t criticize the life-style of that evangelist; you are just jealous.” “Who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless?“ And to prop up the orders they give us, they quote verses like Romans 14:4 – “Who art THOU that judgest another man’ servant?” Or they quote Matthew 7:1-2. “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” So here is one more decision that we might have to make: To judge or not to judge.

Part of the problem, and thus a part of the solution, is in DEFINING what it is “TO JUDGE.”There are three common verbs translated “to judge” in the New Testament, and they are all related. They are “kririo,” (kree-no) “anakrina” and “diakrino.” They all refer to making a choice or a discernment based upon some investigation. Sometimes the word involves condemnation. John 12:47-48 – “And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” But sometimes it means a simple resolve as in Acts 3:13 or I Corinthians 2:2. “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Sometimes “krino” means “to govern” as in Matthew 19:28. “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” But Hebrews 11:11 uses the word to speak about “thinking.” “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”

What I am trying to point out is this: Only sometimes does “to judge” refer to harsh criticism or censure. And that is why at times the Bible commands and commends judgment, and at other times condemns it.

With that in mind, let’s look at some of the DISPUTED PASSAGES.For example there is Matthew 7:1-5 – “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” What kind of judgment is Jesus condemning here? What kind does He not condemn? Does the Lord condemn forming favorable opinions about people? Are we not supposed to note a man as charitable or exceptionally wise? Does the Saviour forbid the jury trial of man suspected of murder; he could be innocent. Does He tell us not to think about or carefully choose our closest friends? Does the Lord contradict I Corinthians 6 which says that the saints shall judge angels? Does He destroy now what He orders in Matthew 16 about excommunicating church members! To quote the Jamieson, Faussett and Brown Commentary: “The context makes it clear that the thing here condemned is that disposition (predetermination) to look unfavorably on the character and actions of others, which leads invariably to the pronouncing of rash, unjust and unlovely judgment upon them.” The point is: no one wants judgment made without regard to the facts. This passage doesn’t forbid discerning or analyzing others or other things, but it does condemn rash, unthinking, blanket judgments. And it condemns the attitude of constantly and unnecessarily judging people. Try your best to discern the truth, if the situation warrants it, but don’t be constantly seeking to judge and condemn rashly and unnecessarily. If you make it a pattern in your life to condemn people; you will find it made a rule against you.

Well then what about I Corinthians 4:3-5? “With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” The mistake in interpreting this passage is assuming that Paul refers only to criticism. The fact is he’s talking about undo praise as well as unnecessary criticism. Paul nowhere even hints that Peter or Apollos were guilty of anything wrong. But some were elevating their heros over the next guy’s heros at the expense of the glory of the Lord. Only God knows the true nature of His own servants. Even Paul was ill-equipped to judge his own faithfulness and heart. These things we’ll have to leave with the Lord. But in no way does Paul outlaw scrutinizing a man’s doctrinal position or public life.

That brings us back to our scripture here in Romans 14:4, 10. Let me read again the context and you determine what sins Paul charges against people. “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. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”

Obviously the most stern words were reserved for the judges rather than the judgees. But this chapter deals with preferences, ideas and ideals. Some of brethren kept special days as holy, like the Passover – but others didn’t. Some ate meat forbidden to the Jews, but others didn’t consider that food forbidden to Christians. Most definitely it is wrong to excommunicate someone over such things. But what if those people were caught stealing that meat? We aren’t supposed to judge him? What if that professing Christian was worshiping Ishtar at Easter? Don’t judge him? Paul would judge and condemn those people as a shame to the cause of Christ, and so should we. Romans 14 doesn’t denounce pastoral rebuke of sin or heresy. But it does condemn attacking other brethren whose non-sinful convictions differ with yours.

What about James 4:11-12? “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” Obviously, this says that we should never publically criticize another believer, right? Does it tell us not to call false doctrine false? Does James say that Jesus was wrong in publicly exposing the sinful church member? No! This simply forbids evil speaking, backbiting, slander and malicious false judgment. I don’t think that to tell the truth about someone’s sin is not evil speaking about that person.

These are verses used to discourage the Christian from examining the faith and practice of others.

Now let’s flip the coin over and look at the VERSES COMMANDING US TO JUDGE.There is Matthew 7:15-20. “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” First, we point out that this is the same chapter as one which appeared to condemn judgment. Secondly, we notice that this gives us a whole college course on judging others. It says that false prophets are a reality and a menace. It says that they can appear righteous and holy, clothing themselves in sheep’s clothing. But they can be recognized through the examination of their fruit. Verse 15 says “beware” – that means “be aware, be watchful,” and that demands examination. “Examination” is another word for “judgment”. What is the criteria for this judgment? Examine the fruit of their ministry. We know that not all the fruit on a tree is good to eat. Some may have worms, or disease and other pieces might be fine. Sometimes bad fruit of sin might grow on a tree next to the fruit of “souls saved.” But just because that is true, it doesn’t mean that we have a right to ignore the sin. There are times when God’s people have to cry out: “There is wormy fruit here.”

I Corinthians 4:5 is sometimes quoted against us; but in it’s wake is I Corinthians 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. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 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.”

The highlights of this chapter are these: Sin can be found in professing Christians – verse 1. Sin corrupts and pollutes, affecting others – verse 6. Just because the sinner is a prominent person, doesn’t mean that we can ignore his sin – verse 2. And all sin must be mourned, denounced, and purged – verse 11. The situation is far more dangerous when sin is in a Christian than when it’s in a child of the Devil. If the sinner is unrepentant then he must be cut-off from the fellowship – verse 9.

I John 4:1 – “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” Note that this is a message to Christians. We are always in danger of receiving false doctrine. Satan apparently camouflages his heresy by using the lips of professing believers. Wise Christians must try the spirit, doctrine and motives of such men, analyzing, testing, judging and discarding the garbage.

Acts 17:11 – “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Here we read that God commended those who judged the message of their teachers. But it was not a capricious judgment. They were testing doctrinal fruit by comparing it to the doctrinal standard – the Word. It is simply not logical to accept every word of every teacher. If a teacher of something false is honest, he will admit to error when informed about it. But if he persists in his error, then he is to be exposed and named. And if you doubt that, read what the Bible says about Hymenaeus, Alexander, Demus and Diotrephes. Paul told the Romans to mark and avoid the false teachers, and this demands judgment.

This kind of judgment is absolutely essential for three reasons.It is important for the sake of the truth itself. Jude told the saints to “earnestly contend for the faith.” Seriously fight for doctrinal truth. This doesn’t mean that the faith is defenseless; it is eternal and incorruptible. But with Satan’s attack on the truth, many are not sure if they should hold or drop it. The battle is for the recognition of the Truth. The world needs to know that the church on corner of 12^th and Spokane believes God’s Word.

And this judgment is essential for the sake of the church. Let’s say some radio preacher begins to defame the doctrine of the blood of Christ. He has over years gained quite a listening audience among good people – he has won their ears. But now he is teaching heresy. That will infiltrate the hearts of his hearers, and they will bring that into their church. For the sake of the church, the heresy and the heretic need to be judged. Not every situation requires naming names, but some of them certainly do.

Then for the sake of souls, judgment is essential. And that is exactly the opposite to what we are told – “For the sake of souls, don’t criticize Billy Graham.” But all false doctrine eventually reflects upon the Word of God. Rarely will you find a chain with a broken link still doing its assigned responsibility. If heresy isn’t fought today, tomorrow we may be eaten by it.

Judging others is sometimes essential. But it is essential that it be done properly. And Romans 14 tells us that to judge other true believers over opinions and preferences is not productive or God-glorifying.