“To Judge Or Not To Judge? ‘The Dilemma Of Judging’” By Timothy Oladipo.
Before I dive into the bones and marrows of this subject matter, permit me to share this statement by Dr Tony Evans: “failing to judge is not only irresponsible but also uncaring. Judgement is a process of determining or weighing up right from wrong and wrong from right…” He goes on to say “…If you can’t judge you can’t discern, and if you are not discerning, you are not fulfilling your spiritual responsibility…” However in his balance he stated… “…If you are to mark out deceptive people, you must be able to judge! But you should be able to judge biblically, righteously and spiritually & the issue should not be “should we judge”, but what kind of judge are you?
His statement from last week re-awakend my desire to bring a balance to the subject of ‘judging’
In scribing this re-run extended nugget, I find myself in a dilemma, a quandary – a maze of questions that needed unpacking. As I gained my literary flow, it dawned on me that I’ve deliberately become increasingly wary of those that circumvent the issue of addressing impostors parading themselves as servants of the most high God!
Amidst the fanfare, glitter and noise that accompany such fellows, I find myself asking -have we really lost our ability to discern? And why are we ‘pussy footing’ and ‘tip toeing’ around the real issue? Surely we are not so narrow minded that we ourselves do not know our right from left. Please tell me that we are not inclined toward this deceitful gradient. Surely we have not adopted these individuals as fathers or mentors!
Being formed from the dust, I am well aware of my frailty and in no way claim to be perfect – oh no! Even my best attempt at righteousness is a filthy rag! However, being a discerning man, (not a perfect one) I am able, by His grace to distinguish deceptive doctrines and principles; even when draped in designer garments, eloquence and surrounded by bedazzled crowds.
I keep hearing folk say that we are not to judge, and I often find myself even questioning people’s motives and rationale behind such utterances. Let me explain further – I vehemently believe that the prescription of every man’s judgement is in God’s hands however grave their sin is. For instance if someone is a gossiper, an adulterer or a thief, we have scriptures to judge or evaluate what they have done, that is their action – right? Resultantly we bring correction and help based on the Word of God – right?
Our evaluation ultimately should be to help if we can (not to condemn) – provided there is willingness from the erring person. We cannot and should not try to decide how evil people should die or what should happen to wrong doers, we are only able to judge their behaviour and the situation that ensues, their sentencing (and indeed acquittal) is in God’s hands. God is all forgiving; He is God who decides who dies and lives; who goes to heaven and who checks into hell! Colossians 2:12-15 says “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the un-circumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by cancelling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him”.
Basically, what I am unequivocally saying is: the ultimate judgement of a person is in God’s hands.
However, I also purport that we cannot make the right choices in life if we are not judging correctly. We judge between righteousness and unrighteousness don’t we? The Bible says “judge for yourself if you are still in faith”! How can we do this if we are not walking in the Spirit? Contrary to some general notions, I personally believe that we can weigh up what we see around us and judge in light of God’s Word by the Holy Spirit and make our choices.
We must be spiritually awake and possess eyes that not only look but actually see. There is a sad increase of evil in the church today, and to many people it is but foolishness to them for they are not spiritual enough to ‘test’ all spirits and judge correctly. The scripture says “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (1 Corinthians 2:15 KJV). Please note that the spiritual man judges all THINGS and not all people!
Another word for ‘judge’ is ‘evaluate’. We are called to be like the Berean church, to evaluate principles and doctrines based on the Word! It is pathetic that many congregations today have not been taught to have the mind of Christ, and therefore by default, do not judge well!
Acts 17:11. “And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.”
I perceive we are raising the ‘amen’ generation that no longer questions, assimilates or discerns but rather shouts the raucous ‘amen’ chorus to anything and everything!
Unscrupulous leaders have set fear in the hearts of men to no longer evaluate spiritual and truth based principles with this ‘judge not’ teaching. In many a sense, the church as we have it today has come up with a defence to not judge. They are erroneously in danger of being wooed into a mindset that says ‘don’t think’, ‘don’t process’, ‘don’t discern!’
I have to emphasise that it is not our responsibility to judge any man, but we can make judgement based on their acts and doctrines by the light of the Word of God! The Bible says “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (1 Corinthians 6:2 KJV). This passage speaks of misunderstanding between brothers! How can you judge between brothers if you are not balanced in the Word or led by the Holy Spirit? At one point or another we will have to make choices, and to make the right ones, we need to be able to judge well!
As seen in the book of Revelation 2 & 3, the devil is not threatened by our good moral walks or self-centred righteousness that ignores its surroundings; he is not bothered about our charity works and beneficiary gestures. As a matter of fact he allows us to get engrossed in such whilst we lose sight of spirituality! Some of the churches in Revelation chapter 2 & 3 were praised for their charitable works and loyalty. Do take note – all of this still did not impress God!
Looking at the state of things then in comparison to things now, it seems the church has proven to be constantly insular, self- centred, single minded in self and ministry – as it was then, so it persists now.
The sin of the church today can be mirrored with the sin of the churches mentioned in the book of Revelation – that is:
- Tolerating false teachings 2:14
- Allowing idolatry to take root within. 2:14
- Turning a blind eye to people following evil doctrines 2:14-15
- Allowing sexual sins and divorce to continue unchecked
- Allowing the spirit of Jezebel to thrive 2:20
- Permitting people to eat at the table of foreign gods. 2:20
- Substituting the Creator for the creation
- Owning the reputation for being alive but dead! 3:1
- Luke warmness – too rich to bother! 3:16
- The two words that kept coming in this indictment are ‘suffereth’ and ‘tolerated’.
Now my question is this, how can we withstand such spirits if we are not judging well? Is the church tolerating and allowing evil to thrive in the name of ‘not judging’?
Why did Jesus say in John 7:24 that we should stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly? Isn’t He expecting believers to judge by the Spirit and then make correct choices? So shall we say that anyone that speaks in tongues and quotes passages of the Bible is spirit filled and born again? Are we then not judging by appearances? Do we really have what it takes today to judge spiritually and make the right decision to stop following these drifters and vagabonds?
In God’s letter to the seven churches He wrote:
To the Church in Pergamos
And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. ‘Revelation 2:12-17
To the Church in Thyatira
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Revelation 2:18-21
To the Church in Sardis
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Revelations 3:1-2
To the Church in Laodicea
“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.15″‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realising that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Revelation 3:14-17
In summary the above passages depict God talking to His church, as a concerned Father would speak to an erring child – something like this:
You have allowed so much evil to continue amongst you! You chose to turn blind eyes to them; you allow wrong doctrines and evil to continue. You have shifted from the truth over years so much so that my people can no longer discern evil! You are more interested in wealth than righteous living. You have become ‘in-between’ in your pleasure for the world and your worship of Me. Whilst you continue to throw out flyers, and organise conferences and seminars – souls around you are perishing!
Please pause here and ask yourself where you stand, what is your current attitude to judging, do you shy away or are you able to discern situations? Are you operating on an ‘Amen to everything’ mode or are you beginning to question; ponder and measure things against the Word?
The churches in Asia (Revelation 2&3) were in a rut due to lack of spiritual judgements between right and wrong, they were ignorant when it came to evaluating truth correctly.
I find it very amusing that we can judge who our spouses and children hang out with, but when it come to God’s own children we draw a blank and allow them to become preys!
Should it really be ‘business as usual’ whilst souls are perishing? Well, you judge for yourself if you are still in the faith!
Remain envisioned & keep discerning!
Timothy Oladipo is the President of Timothy Oladipo Envisioning Ministries.
