JUDGING AND TOUCHING THE UNTOUCHABLES
By: Victor T. Stephens
"If an offense comes out of the truth, better is it that the offense come than that the truth be concealed."
~ Thomas Hardy
JUDGE NOT LEST YE BE JUDGED
Let's now look at Matthew 7:1.
"Judge not, that you be not judged." (Matt. 7:1)
Along with Psalm 105:15, Matthew 7:1 is one of the most misquoted and abused verses in the Bible. Now, to understand this verse in its proper exegetical context, let's take a look at verses two through five for greater clarity.
"For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
(Matt. 7:2-5)
It should be clear that this passage is instructing us not to judge hypocritically. Romans 2:3 says:
"And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?" (Rom. 2:3)
Thus, in proper context, Matthew 7:1 does not mean we are prohibited from investigating and judging doctrines taught by leaders in the church.
Now, Jesus says in Matthew 7:15-16, 21-23:
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Matt. 7:15-16, 21-23)
How can we discern false teachers and false prophets if we do not judge their doctrines by the Word of God? Let's consider the following overwhelming evidence that firmly supports judging the teachings of those behind the pulpit:
1) John 7:24 says that we are to:
"Judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24).
This means that we are commanded to exercise moral and doctrinal discernment.
2) In Romans 16:17-18, Paul commands believers to:
"note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple." (Rom. 16:17-18)
The word "note" means "to discern and judge." When false teachers are identified, Scripture commands us to "avoid them." Yet many Christians will ignore the warning and blindly follow, defend, and support them.
3) 1 Timothy 5:20 says:
"Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that others may take warning." (1 Tim. 5:20)
Public sin, which includes teaching false doctrines, is to be judged and rebuked publicly to warn others of impending danger.
4) In the first Book of Timothy, Paul judges the false doctrines of Hymenenaeus and Alexander.
"Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme." (1 Tim. 1:19-20)
5) In 1 Corinthians 5:12, it states:
"Do you not judge those who are inside?" (1 Cor. 5:12)
This verse clearly indicates that Christians should judge sinful acts, which include those who teach false doctrines within the church.
6) In 1 Timothy 1:3, it says:
"As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer...." (1 Tim. 1:3)
To determine if a doctrine is false, we must judge it by the Word of God.
7) In the second Book of Timothy, Paul instructed Timothy to:
"Rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths" (2 Tim. 4:2-4).
Now, on what grounds would one be able to "rebuke" without having to judge doctrine? Note that Paul says the time is coming when people will no longer adhere to sound doctrine, but rather will congregate with many false teachers who teach what they want to hear. Thus, they will reject truth and follow false teachers. This is clearly happening today. That said, let's take a look at how Paul addressed the church at Corinth regarding false teachers.
JUDGING FALSE TEACHERS: PAUL AND THE “SUPER APOSTLES”
Second Corinthians 11:3-6, 13-15 is closely related to 2 Tim. 4:2-4. Here, we will discover the similarity between the church at Corinth and many of today's modern churches. Moreover, we'll also see that Paul is being very "judgmental," and rightly so.
"But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." (2 Cor. 11:3-6, 13-15)
Let's now observe the following key points:
1) In verse three, Paul recollects how the serpent (Satan) deceived Eve by his craftiness. He accomplished this feat by seducing her mind. That is precisely what false teachers were doing to the church in Corinth. And similarly, Satan is effectively using the same tactics in many churches today. Seduced by physical appearance and eloquent speech, Christians have accepted those who claim to be appointed by God, when in fact, they are false teachers.
2) In verse four, Paul indicates that false teachers were preaching another Jesus, a different spirit, and a different gospel. And amazingly, the Corinthians were so blind and gullible that they tolerated this heresy without question. Likened to the Corinthian church, today we have thousands of naïve and undiscerning Christians who are supporters of the Word-Faith Movement --- a federation of false teachers who are preaching another Jesus and a different gospel.
3) In verse five, Paul sarcastically regards these false teachers as "super-apostles." Today we have "super-apostles" who "do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple" (Rom. 16:18).
What matters to them is money, their own brand of the gospel, and status within the church. And their followers like to identify with them.
4) In verse six, Paul says that while he may not have been eloquent in speech, he certainly was not lacking knowledge of Scripture. It appears that the doctrines of these smooth-talking false teachers carried more weight in the Corinthian Church than the gospel as taught by Paul. This is further affirmation that those who are naïve have a much greater tendency to fall prey to false teachers who are very fluent in speech.
5) In verses 13-15, the Corinthians thought they were being led by true men of God, but Paul finally calls them what they are: "For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ."
Now, do we hear the Corinthians yelling, "Do Not Touch The Lord's Anointed" or "Judge Not," as we do today when discerning Christians call out false teachers? The answer is clear. Absolutely not!
Next: The Wrong Kind of Judging
