“For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.” –1 Corinthians 5:12-13
“You shouldn’t judge others.” It’s a phrase that has gained in popularity nowadays and is thrown around when judgment is directed at someone. If there’s one thing we all know, it’s that people do not enjoy being judged by others. It’s an action that often gets rebuttal much like the one that started this paragraph.
But are we not suppose to judge? Jesus says in Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.” It seems straightforward and clear that Jesus is telling his disciples not to judge others, or is He? Deeper investigation reveals Jesus is saying that if you judge your brother when you’re full of sin, you will get a judgment yourself from your brother, and nothing is accomplished except negative circular criticism.
Interestingly enough Jesus proceeds to instruct his disciples how to properly judge others. They must first repent of their own sins before earning the right to “take the speck out of” their brother’s eye (Matthew 7:3-5). Jesus is telling us to properly remove a speck (sin) from our brother’s eye we must first be able to see clearly ourselves.
Paul takes this a step further when writing to the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 5:9-13). Paul was magnifying what Christ said in Matthew by informing the young church that they were to cleanse the body (church) of Christ by not associating “with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” It was not the ones outside of the church that was to receive this judgment, but the believers inside the church. This passage goes so far as to say “remove the wicked man from among yourselves.”
Simply put, Paul and Jesus both are saying that we as Christians have a responsibility to Christ to uphold holiness within the body. When we become members of the body we succumb to the scrutiny of other believers to live the righteous life commanded by our Lord. We die to sin and live for Christ every day and owe it to our fellow brothers and sisters to keep the body of Christ holy. Of course, all of this is to be done with the attitude of love and the goal of bringing repentance and restitution.
In Christ,
Dave
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