1 Corinthians 5:12-13
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood and often mis-taught doctrines of the church is the concept of "judging" others. We often take the verses from the Sermon on the Mount, below, and apply them to a long and steady course of completely no-judgment-zone. Note Christ's words from that famous sermon:
Matthew 7:1-5
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
Most would tell us that it would appear that Jesus is plaining telling us to NOT judge our brother. Yet, in the passage, above, from 1 Corinthians, Paul certainly is telling us to avoid judging the world (that is God's job), but to make sure we do make judgements on the actions and life style of those "within" the church ... our brothers and sisters in Christ. So, why the conflict? Why does Paul state what Jesus doesn't? The conflict is initiated based upon the interpretation of Jesus words in the Sermon. If you read it again you will note that there is no where where Jesus tells us to NOT judge. What He states is that we are to NOT judge, that we won't be judged. He is telling us that the same measure of judgment we do against others will be applied to us. Having a judgmental spirit, in Jesus' words, is wrong and unholy. Being a hypocrite in regard to judging is wrong. Jesus actually tells us that after we take the speck from our own eye we "will see clearly to take the speak out of your brother's eye." So, there is the connection with Paul's teaching. Judging is to be done within the church. That is plain from the text Paul writes to the church at Corinth. But, Judging is to be done in a spirit of humility and within the spirit of Christ. We are to keep the Body (the Church) pure. If we see a brother or sister who is openingly sinning in the church, we are to correct them. However, we are not to do this type of judgment in a hypocritical and prideful manner. We are to "purge" the evilness from among us. We are to make sure we keep a non-judgmental-zone while not creating a non-judgement-zone. When we see others in a fault, we are to restore them in meekness, lest we ourselves be caught in sin.
Galatians 6:1
Bear One Another's Burdens
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
The truth is, we are to judge. But, we are to judge within the church, only and we are to judge within the spirit of Christ only. When we see the world's conduct in life today (sexual and immorality and lacking care and integrity) we are to let God judge them. We are to love them. When those same fruit enter into the church we are to purge ourselves from that life so it does not corrupt.
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