THIS BIT OF `WISDOM' IS SPROUTED BY CHRISTIAN AND NON CHRISTIAN ALIKE AND
GENERALLY SPOKEN AS A BLANKET DEFENSE AGAINST
AS WITH A LOT OF SAYINGS THAT CAN BE TRACED BACK TO THE BIBLE,
HOWEVER THEY ARE MISAPPLIED.
FOR EXAMPLE ALL RELIGIOUS HERESIES AND CULTS CAN SHOW YOU WITH
CHAPTER AND VERSE
WHAT
SATAN WON'T USE ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THE BIBLE TO STATE HIS CLAIMS
SO MERELY QUOTING FROM THE BIBLE DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT.
“STUDY TO SHEW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD...” (2Timothy 2:15).
THIS WORD "STUDY" CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN THE KING JAMES BIBLE -
ALL THE REST HAVE "do your best ...be diligent ...try hard..." so it
is no wonder that readers of these versions generally support "Judge
not!" Their Bibles don't tell them to study God's word.
******************
WE SHALL SEE
THAT NOT ONLY IS IT CORRECT FOR A CHRISTIAN TO
JUDGE. BUT THE
CHRISTIAN IS
BELIEVE WHAT
YOU WILL, THEN
SEARCH THE
BIBLE TO SUPPORT THAT POSITION
Isn't it funny - everyone's read the bible but no-one knows what's in
it?
You can ask anyone
about what they believe on any topic and they'll tell you. They may be right or
wrong but it doesn't seem to matter all that much. Most people believe what
they want to believe. How does the old saying go - "Don't let the facts
get in the way of a good story".
HOW DO PEOPLE
FORM THEIR OPINIONS?
Relatives,
friends, TV or newspapers are the common sources for helping people to make
& form an opinion - and all these have a popular credibility. You know
"Well I read it in the paper and saw it on TV!"
Not many people have
the time or the inclination to actually do any study on most topics and so they
rely on information that has popular credibility.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE BIBLE IT'S NO DIFFERENT
"My Dad reckons that when he went to Sunday
School..."
"My neighbor goes to church and she says..."
"My priest says that..." "It seems to
me that..." "The loving thing to do in this situation would be..."
"Jesus taught about love so we should
"Let's be like Jesus and...."
Everyone has an opinion but few actually study the
Bible. Everyone thinks they know what a Christian is and what it is to be
a Christian, but in reality, there are few who actually know what they're
talking about.
There is a saying that says "Knowing everything and knowing
nothing."
JUDGE NOT
The Scripture most often used comes from Matthew7:1
"Judge not that ye be not judged" This verse has suffered more abuse
in the hands of liberal church leaders than most other passages.
By constant repetition of the verse, unregenerate
pastors have cowed Christians into shutting their mouths against anything and
anybody. You remember that Satan quotes (misquotes) Scripture in Matthew 4
during the temptation of Jesus and it should come as no surprise that he has never
repented of the practice since then.
We are reminded that false apostles and deceitful workers transform
themselves into the apostles of Christ, for Satan himself is transformed into
an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:13 (2 Corinthians 11:14) And no
marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
This phrase of "judge not" should be seen in
the light of other verses such as:
1. He that is spiritual judgeth all things"
(1 Corinthians 5:12) and
2. "Why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?"
(Luke12:57) and
3. "We shall judge angels" (1Cor 6:3) and
4. "For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do
not ye judge them that are within?" (1 Corinthians 5:12).
The Liberal overlooks these texts and or pretends that
Paul's authority is secondary to the pre-crucifixion and Jewish discourse of
Matthew 7.
It is to be noticed that in the phrase "That ye
be not judged", there is no mention of Hell. If the issue is judging a man
to be lost, no one has to judge that, for the man is already judged and
condemned!
(1Cor5:13 "But them that are without God
judgeth.” and John3.18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he
that believeth not Is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the
name of the only begotten Son of God.")
The rule in Matthew then, is a general rule covering
the rules of conduct between Jewish saints, with a direct reference to the
Kingdom of Heaven Age and the judgment mentioned in Matthew5:22.
("Raca"? We are dealing with the Kingdom of Heaven and this is the
Jewish time of Christ's One Thousand Year millennial reign. This is a Jewish
term used for Jews indicating a Jewish period in the future. Inspirationally
though, this is a fine teaching about anger. Council? You cannot insert "the
council" of Matt5:22 into the church age for love nor money. This is a
salvation-by-works scheme that has no doctrinal application to the church age).
(If you want further teaching on the difference between the Kingdom of Heaven
and the Kingdom of God, please contact Australian Bible Ministries.)
What are the kingdoms of heaven and God?
THE BIBLE
TEACHES JUDGEMENT
The Bible teaches a very complex system of Christian judgment and
discernment,
1. The Christian is to judge things in his own life
and the lives of others.
"JUDGE IN YOURSELVES…” (1Cor 11:13)
For if WE WOULD JUDGE OURSELVES, we should not be
judged. " (1Cor11:31) "It is reported commonly that there is
fornication among you...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 l VERILY,
as absent in body, but present in spirit, HAVE JUDGED ALREADY, as though l were
present, concerning him) that hath so done this deed. "(1 Corinthians 5:1;
1Cor 5:2-3)
2. He is not to judge a brother as
unsaved if that brother disagrees with him on minor doctrinal points of
practice.
"Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but
not to doubtful disputations.... 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... Let us therefore not judge one another any more: but judge
this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his
brother's way. "(Romans14:1-10,13)
3. He is not to judge anything
hastily, or when not required or unmercifully or from an unscriptural
standpoint. However he is to clearly mark out and avoid preachers
and teachers who do not believe the word of God, or who profess to believe it
but, practically, deny it by their preaching and teaching. “…mark them that
cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned;
and avoid them... and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the
simple."
(Romans16:17-18)
"For many walk ... that they are enemies of the cross of Christ:
Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their
shame..."
(Phil 3:18-19)
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing,
but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know
them. " Matthew 7:15, 20).
YOU SEE,
CHRISTIANS ARE CALLED TO JUDGE! HOW CAN YOU DISCERN GOOD AND BAD FRUIT IF YOU
DON'T JUDGE?
The Christian has to judge the fruit quickly and accurately by the
standard of absolute truth: "Prove all things, hold fast that which is
good." (1 Thess 5:21).
IT IS NOTHING
BUT SATANIC LIBERAL TEACHING THAT SAYS WE ARE NOT TO JUDGE WHETHER OR NOT A
DOCTRINE IS TRUE. IT IS A SNARE FOR STUPID AND FEEBLE MINDED PEOPLE, WHO
ARE
Harley Hitchcock
Australian Bible Ministries, PO
Box 5058, Mt. Gravatt East, 4122 Qld, Australia
www.AustralianBibleMinistries.com
