- 5 months ago
Brought to you by the Continuing Church of God
“Bringing you news and analysis of world events in light of Bible prophecy.”
This is a mandate of the Continuing Church of God.
Judge not lest ye be judged. At least that’s what we’re told in Matt 7:1 So, should Christians ever judge or not? Well, let’s read verse 2 - Matt 7:2 "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." Are these verses telling us not to judge? Let’s read one more verse. Drop down to verse 3 and read some more in Matthew 7. Matt 7:3 "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Isn’t this telling us to judge ourselves and not others?" Here’s something else Jesus said. How does this verse fit in - John 7:24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." How do we tie these verse together in order to rightly divide the word of truth? Should Christians be able to render judgments on sexual immortality in modern society? Are Christians going to judge angels? What did the old Worldwide Church of God teach about judgment vs. condemnation? Is it possible that proper judgement is associated with condemnation? Are there also Christians who are too judgmental about the true church, but not enough related to themselves? Watch this video as Dr. Thiel shines the light of God’s truth from the pages of the Bible on righteous judgment.
Read the full article to this video titled “Biblical Illiteracy: ‘Judge Not’” at URL https://www.cogwriter.com/news/doctrine/biblical-illiteracy-judge-not/
“Bringing you news and analysis of world events in light of Bible prophecy.”
This is a mandate of the Continuing Church of God.
Judge not lest ye be judged. At least that’s what we’re told in Matt 7:1 So, should Christians ever judge or not? Well, let’s read verse 2 - Matt 7:2 "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." Are these verses telling us not to judge? Let’s read one more verse. Drop down to verse 3 and read some more in Matthew 7. Matt 7:3 "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Isn’t this telling us to judge ourselves and not others?" Here’s something else Jesus said. How does this verse fit in - John 7:24 "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." How do we tie these verse together in order to rightly divide the word of truth? Should Christians be able to render judgments on sexual immortality in modern society? Are Christians going to judge angels? What did the old Worldwide Church of God teach about judgment vs. condemnation? Is it possible that proper judgement is associated with condemnation? Are there also Christians who are too judgmental about the true church, but not enough related to themselves? Watch this video as Dr. Thiel shines the light of God’s truth from the pages of the Bible on righteous judgment.
Read the full article to this video titled “Biblical Illiteracy: ‘Judge Not’” at URL https://www.cogwriter.com/news/doctrine/biblical-illiteracy-judge-not/
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00:00Greetings, friends. This is Steve Dupuy for the Bible News Prophecy Program with Dr. Bob Thiel,
00:10bringing you news and analysis of world events in light of Bible prophecy.
00:15Dr. Thiel, there are many different points of view concerning judging.
00:20There's the written law or legal view of judging.
00:23There's the philosophical view of judging, for example, the socialist view, the communist view, etc.
00:27But what should the Christian view be of judging?
00:33Well, somebody sent me a link to an article at Harvard Daily this week
00:37and basically says that people mishandled this part of the Bible that says judge not.
00:45They talked about a homosexual couple was on a so-called Christian program.
00:52The so-called Christian hosts said they're not supposed to, the Bible says not to judge.
00:59But the reality is, of course, the Bible says a bit more about that.
01:04You know, with Matthew 7, it says, judge not that you do not judge.
01:09For with the judgment you pronounce, you will be judged.
01:12With the measure you use it, it will be measured to you.
01:15It says, you know, why do you see the speck in your brother's eye?
01:18And not the log that's in your own eye.
01:21And so basically, the Bible says, yeah, if you need a judge, you've got to be careful.
01:27Use the right standard because the same standard is going to apply to you.
01:32And, you know, unfortunately, once people abandon the truth and authority of God's word,
01:40their compromise follows.
01:41And that's exactly what we see in these so-called compromising Christians.
01:48You know, that's a good point, too, Dr. Teal.
01:51There seems to be many compromising Christians.
01:55Yeah, well, that's what the article called on that.
01:57You know, you can talk about that in John 7, 23.
02:00Don't judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.
02:03So, yeah, Christians are supposed to make righteous judgments.
02:07Well, just how are Christians supposed to go about judging righteously?
02:11Well, Psalm 119, verse 172 says, all your commandments are righteousness.
02:18Now, as far as God's commands concerning marriage and homosexuality, you're in Mark 10, 5, 8.
02:25Jesus said, God made a male, female from the beginning.
02:29Two should become one flesh.
02:30And in the book of Leviticus, by the way, 18, verse 22, it says you shouldn't lie with a male.
02:37It's with a woman.
02:37It's an abomination.
02:39So, Jesus taught, you know, marriage is between a man and a woman.
02:42And the Bible says for men to have sex together, it's an abomination.
02:44And those who try to claim the Bible doesn't clearly condemn such things.
02:51They're intentionally misleading what it teaches.
02:55Also, in the New Testament, in Romans chapter 1, and a lot of people don't like this quoted,
03:00it says that we're not even supposed to approve of such things.
03:06Verse 24 says, God gave people up to uncleanness, to lust their heart, to dishonor their bodies among themselves.
03:13Verse 26, they have these vile passions to do what's against nature, women against, doing what women are supposed to do, men against men.
03:24And the Bible says that not only those who practice such are deserving of death, but also those who approve it.
03:30So, we're not supposed to participate or condone sexual immorality.
03:36Now, contrary to a lot of you out there, right, let me mention, in 1 Corinthians 6, the Apostle Paul clearly teaches that the sexually immoral can change.
03:47So, he's told, you know, the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God.
03:51Don't be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, covetous revilers, etc.
03:59Those verses seem to be clearly telling us that in order to inherit the kingdom of God, thieves need to change, murderers need to change, extortioners need to change, and homosexuals also need to change.
04:23Well, yes, the true Christians should have been able to see these errors and judge on those kind of matters.
04:30In Corinthians chapter 5, starting with verse 1, Paul mentioned that there was sexual immorality in Corinth, and that people were puffed up.
04:41And he said that he wasn't there, but he wasn't even there.
04:46As far as what standards of judging a Christian should have, well, they ought to come from the Bible.
04:50It says in Hebrews chapter 4, verse 12, the word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword,
04:58cursing even the division of the soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
05:06Now, Christians are in a position to judge many aspects of sin and immorality.
05:11And in 1 Corinthians 6, driving with verse 2, it says,
05:15Don't you know that saints will judge the world?
05:18Now, saints are talking about Christians.
05:20And if the world is going to be judged by you, are you unwilling to judge the smallest matters?
05:26Don't you know that we're going to judge angels?
05:28How much more do things be changed in this life?
05:31Now, it's not just, by the way, various Protestants who overlook scriptures related to homosexuality and judgment.
05:36The Associated Press reported something about the late Pope Francis, that during his first airborne press conferences, Pope, he was asked about a gay priest, and he said,
05:50Who am I to judge?
05:51Didn't those words of Pope Francis directly contradict the scriptures you just quoted?
05:59Yes.
06:01Now, the old world why Church of God puts some stuff out about judging.
06:05They start off with, Judge not that you be not judged.
06:08And in the Sermon of the Matthew, Jesus also said, You'll know them by their fruits.
06:16But the real judgment, by the fruits, is something that we should be able to judge and to understand.
06:24When Jesus said, Judge not that you be not judged, the term obviously referred to judgment in a sense of condemnation or the pronouncement of guilt.
06:32Well, it's plain in the verses that follow that no one is really careful with such judgment because all are blinded by their own shortcomings.
06:41Regardless of the accomplishments in this life, no one is prologue to sit in, or I'm going to say, full spiritual judgment of others.
06:51Jesus himself said, For God did not send his son to the world to condemn the world, but through him it may be saved, in John 3, 17.
06:58And the word condemn is derived from the same word that we see in Matthew 7, 1.
07:08Anyway, there's no other reasons why we shouldn't judge, sit in judgment or condemnation, actually, of others.
07:15One important reason is expounded by Paul in Romans 2.
07:19It says, Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are the judges.
07:26For we knew that judge is the same things.
07:29The term judge, in this case, talks about condemnation.
07:33It's the same Greek word used in Matthew 7, verse 1.
07:38So, is the critical issue not so much a matter of judgment, but rather inappropriate condemnation?
07:45In other words, as Christians, we should use righteous judgment about the actions of others,
07:50but we should be careful about condemning the one committing the acts.
07:54Certainly, that's part of it.
07:57Now, getting back to the worldwide church of God, then we throw to 2 Peter 3, verse 9.
08:02And the article said,
08:04The word is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness.
08:09There's long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but all should come to repentance.
08:14Then it says,
08:16It's a natural reaction to lunge quickly to accusation.
08:19We see the wrongdoing of others, all the while by being blind and to our shortcomings.
08:24And we point the finger and we fail to remember that God is aware of all.
08:29He has chosen not to intervene at the moment.
08:31He's literally giving us space to repent.
08:34And then they said,
08:37When addressing the Thyatira in church in Revelation 2, verse 21,
08:41God spoke of the woman Jezebel and mentioned her sins and pollutions and said,
08:46I will give her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not.
08:51The point's obvious.
08:52God gives all space to repent.
08:55God's not willing that any should perish,
08:57So it's not all right to condemn a brother,
09:02and then somebody might be invading a space to repent God's given them.
09:06Many reasons could be cited for not condemning another,
09:09but by the same token,
09:10Christians have the obligation to use their minds wisely
09:12to develop their judgment to the point of discernment.
09:17It's not all right to condemn a brother,
09:19but those so doing, they were invading the space God's given to repent.
09:23In Romans 12, starting verse 1,
09:27Paul wrote,
09:27I beseech you, therefore, brethren,
09:30by the mercies of God,
09:33that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,
09:35holy and acceptable to God,
09:37which is a reasonable service,
09:38and not be conformed to the world,
09:40but being transformed by the renewing of your mind,
09:43that you may prove what is good and acceptable
09:44in the perfect world of God.
09:46This, of course, requires study and contemplation of the Bible,
09:51as well as the world around us.
09:52And the article continues by quoting 1 Corinthians 2,
09:5814 to 16,
09:59But the natural mind receives not the things of God,
10:02they're foolishness to them,
10:03merely can they be known to him because they're spiritually discerned.
10:07But he that is spiritual judges all things,
10:11that he himself is judged by no man.
10:13For whom has known the mind of the Lord,
10:16that he may instruct him,
10:17that we have the mind of Christ.
10:20The spirit of God is intended to increase and sharpen our body,
10:22to discern and make judgments.
10:24So this contrast between judgment and condemnation
10:29is something we ought to be able to do.
10:32But the article says,
10:33Well, this is not an easy challenge.
10:35The challenge to us as Christians is not easy.
10:38During times of crisis,
10:39we have to resist the natural inclination
10:41to put the finger and imagine the worst.
10:44At the same time, we must use discernment,
10:46which is found upon the word of God.
10:49To achieve this seemingly impossible balance,
10:51we must exercise unswerving faith and confidence in God
10:55to accomplish that he'll accomplish all he says he will.
11:01In one of the last messages of the church at large,
11:04Peter in 1 Peter 4.17 said,
11:06The time has come that judgment must first begin at the house of God,
11:10who begins first with us,
11:12which to be the end of those who pray not for the gospel of God.
11:14It's true that God is the judge of all of us,
11:19but we within the house of God must exercise discernment
11:22to keep our individual lives close to him.
11:25It's all if, by the way, I'll interject
11:26on who should be part of the church.
11:31Anyway, to discern right from wrong,
11:32to give us space to repent, to show love,
11:34to have faith that God is fully aware of
11:36and working with each individual to do these things
11:38represents one of the toughest challenges
11:40for Christians of all time.
11:42And that was in the old Good Names magazine in 1979.
11:46Well, anyway, Christians can and should judge based on what?
11:51Based on what the Word of God teaches.
11:55A major flaw in this world's version of Christianity
11:58has long been to overlook many parts of Scripture
12:00and for big time that things seem too difficult for them.
12:05Now, perhaps I should also mention
12:08that this is going to sound kind of the opposite
12:11that we've been talking about so far
12:12is that most true end-time Christians,
12:16according to the Bible,
12:18will be Laodicean.
12:19And that's our age now.
12:21Now, the word Laodicea is actually derived
12:24from two Greek words.
12:26What does that mean?
12:27Those two Greek words mean
12:29judgment of the people,
12:32the people judge,
12:33or the people are judgmental.
12:34Now, the problem with the Laodiceans
12:39isn't that they don't judge at all.
12:43There are two issues.
12:45One, they don't judge themselves.
12:49And you can read that in Revelation 3,
12:51verses 14 through 22,
12:54where Jesus condemns them for that.
12:56But secondly,
12:57they do not judge that they should be part
13:01of the true Philadelphia
13:02and run to the Church of God.
13:03So that's another flaw
13:05that they have.
13:06So, again,
13:08as the old Worldwide Church of God
13:10told people,
13:11the balance between
13:12proper discernment
13:13and judgment
13:14is one of the toughest challenges
13:16that Christians face.
13:17And sadly,
13:18based on Jesus' words
13:20in Revelation,
13:21most end-time Christians
13:22don't really seem to have that.
13:25Anyway,
13:26what should we do?
13:28We are not to overlook
13:29God's criteria.
13:31There are some things
13:31that are clearly sin.
13:33We condemn the sin.
13:35We denounce the sin.
13:36We don't condemn the sinner.
13:39We believe God
13:41will give them
13:41the opportunity
13:41to repent.
13:44And,
13:45as the Word of God says,
13:47as Jesus said,
13:48the Word of God himself,
13:50in John 7, 24,
13:53we need to remember to what?
13:56Judge with righteous judgment.
13:58And that's what all Christians
14:00should be doing at this time.
14:03Thank you, Dr. Thiel.
14:04For more interviews
14:05with Dr. Thiel,
14:06in addition to written,
14:07as well as audio articles,
14:08visit our website
14:09at BibleNewsProphecy.net.
14:12This is Steve Dupuis
14:13for the Bible News Prophecy Program.