It’s one of the most abused and misused statements and deflections…
“You can’t judge me!”
“Judge much?”
“Only God can judge me!”
Identifying what the bible says is sin isn’t judging. To identify something is to recognize and name it.
Recognizing and naming sin is NOT judging. It’s our responsibility as disciples to hold one another accountable and to let ‘sinners’ (we are all sinners saved by grace) that they are falling short of God’s standards.
John 7:24 (NKJV)
24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Ephesians 5:11 (NKJV)
11 And have (A)no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather [a]expose them.
However, assuming that you know what is inside someone else’s heart…
Assuming that you know their motives…
Or pronouncing condemnation on them…
Are all examples of judging.
Saying that the cup in the picture above is green is not judging it. But, assuming there is coffee inside of it is. Assuming it can only be used for coffee is. The fact is that it may prefer being called a mug.
“YOU’RE JUDGING ME!”… is often the response to an assumption or a conclusion based on someone’s established behavior, character and that’s not judging, that’s their fruit.
Matthew 7:20 (NKJV)
20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
BE BLESSTIFIED!
Yes, we have to judge enough to discern if we are hearing a wolf in sheep’s clothing!
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Exactly!
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We are commanded to judge fellow brethren. Too few believers even read their Bibles to know that.
1Ko 5:9 In my letter I said to you that you were not to keep company with those who go after the desires of the flesh;
1Ko 5:10 But I had not in mind the sinners who are outside the church, or those who have a desire for and take the property of others, or those who give worship to images; for it is not possible to keep away from such people without going out of the world completely:
1Ko 5:11 But the sense of my letter was that if a brother had the name of being one who went after the desires of the flesh, or had the desire for other people’s property, or was in the way of using violent language, or being the worse for drink, or took by force what was not his, you might not keep company with such a one, or take food with him.
1Ko 5:12 For it is no business of mine to be judging those who are outside; but it is yours to be judging those who are among you;
1Ko 5:13 As for those who are outside, God is their judge. So put away the evil man from among you.
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