Just the other day I got involved in a discussion on Facebook when answering a post about a well-known public figure. The person who made the post purported this person was a Christian. But when I questioned whether their lifestyle was consistent with that claim, by pointing out various very public displays of behaviour which I considered unchristian, the tone changed and I was accused of being judgmental.

This is not the first time this has happened. A few years ago, I challenged a Church that was going to hold a service celebrating gay relationships. As I quoted scripture, two views were put forward. The first one was that I was weaponizing scripture (something Jesus, with his use of the Old Testament, could easily have been accused of).  The second was I was being judgmental, and that was something a Christian should never be because Jesus had said: “Judge not, that you will not be judged” (Matthew 7:1).   Jesus, I was told, had never judged anyone!

So, is this a right understanding of Christ’s teaching? Should we be reluctant to judge anything within the Church?

Let’s start with Matthew 7:1. The first thing we need to note is this teaching is aimed at the disciples. Therefore, it is teaching for the Church. Also, the verse must be understood in the context of what comes after it, so verses 2-5 should also be considered. One of the methods the Rabbis used when teaching was to use extremes to make a point.  In verses 3-4 Jesus uses that approach. He highlights the danger of having a critical spirit that spots a small misdemeanour in someone while not examining far bigger faults within oneself! But this is not a remit to not judge as in verse 5 Jesus says: “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.”  So, these verses encourage us to partake in serious self-examination before correcting others. But they do not for a second suggest that the fault doesn’t need to be rectified as the passage talks about the removal of the: “speck” from the brother’s eye!  After all in Luke 17:3 Jesus sayes: “Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him”.  David Dickerson writes: ‘The man who is about the removing of his own sins shall have spiritual light and wisdom to deal with others in a matter of their repentance and reformation’[1]  This is picked up in Paul’s teaching to the Galatian Church: ‘Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourselves least you too be tempted’ (Galatians 6:1).  As J. C. Ryle notes: ‘What our Lord means to condemn is a censorious and fault-finding spirit.’ [2]

A casual reading of the scriptures shows Jesus often passed judgement.  His first words in Mark’s Gospel are: “The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15).  This is a judgement that people were not ready for the: ‘Kingdom’ unless they repented!  How about: “Get behind me Satan!” (Mark 8:33) in reaction to Peter giving voice to what the disciples were probably all thinking (note the texts emphasis on the phrase: ‘seeing his disciples’).  This is a judgement on the thoughts and actions manifested by Peter’s outburst concerning Jesus’ prediction of his death and resurrection! Jesus’s words to the woman who was caught in adultery: “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:11) show that he judged her former life to be sinful! Add to this Jesus consistently passes judgement on the hypocrisy of the religious leaders (the context of the parallel passage to Matthew’s in Luke 6:37-42) and we see the claim that Jesus never judged anyone has no grounds in scripture.  Jesus shows the perfect criteria for judgement when criticized by the Jewish religious authorities. “Do not judge by appearance, but judge with right judgement” (John 7:24).John writing when the deity of Christ was being questioned urges Churches to: ‘test the spirits to see whether they are from God’ (1 John 4:1).  The threat of false teaching was a major issue in the early Church, so it is not surprising that we find it referred to in various letters to the Churches.  Jude’s letter deals almost exclusively with the issue as does the second chapter of Peter’s second letter.  In 2 Corinthians 11:1-15 Paul urges those in the Corinthian Church to be discerning and to judge what is being taught against the Gospel which he and others had preached to them.  Why was he so concerned?  Simply because it was a real threat as: ‘even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light’ (v 14).  He also noted that: ‘his servants also, disguised themselves as servants of righteousness’ (v15).

In the end, the Lord wants his people, the Church, to be holy (1 Peter 1:15-16).  We are not to embrace the ways of the world as we seek to reach out to people (John 17:16-18).  Therefore, everything should be judged by scripture. When there are cases of Christians falling into sin, then corrective judgment should be made that shows that person their error. The aim should be to lovingly restore, rather than punish.  When there is a lack of repentance stronger measures may be needed as in 1 Corinthians 5:13 Paul urges the Church to: ‘Purge the evil person from among you.‘ 

It’s not been my intention to cover every aspect of Church discipline, but rather to challenge the notion that judgement has no place in the Church.  ‘God’s Word’ is given for the good of the Church.  Let’s not be afraid to apply it in every aspect of Church life!  ‘For it is time for judgement to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?’ (1 Peter 4:17).

Like to hear a sermon on Matthew 7:1-14? The Realistic Christian Life.

[1] David Dickinson, Matthew, The Geneva Series of Commentaries (Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust, 1981) 86-87.
[2] J, C. Ryle, Matthew , Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust, 2012) 51.