Judgment in the Church

“Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore ‘put away from yourselves the evil person.’” 1 Cor. 5:12-13.

Wherever a spiritual church begins to grow and flourish, there will be much to correct and to judge “inside.” However, the desire to judge is one of the sins we bring with us from the world—one of the sins which so easily ensnares us and which must be pulled up by the roots. As soon as God gives a person a portion of His light, they begin to use that light to expose other people’s shortcomings, and then they judge accordingly. This judgment is usually harsh and unjust, because in this light they do not yet possess the anointing that knows all things. 1 John 2:20.

God doesn’t give us light in order to judge others, but to judge ourselves. “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” It is only when sin has been cleansed away by walking in the light that we will possess the anointing that knows all things. In other words, we do not know everything in this initial light and can therefore only use it to judge ourselves, not the others. That is why the Scriptures say, “I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?” 1 Cor. 6:5.

It takes a wise man to judge those who are “inside.” The Corinthians abounded in everything: in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all diligence (2 Cor. 8:7), but Paul had to say, to their shame, that there was not one wise man among them who was able to judge inside between his brethren.

There is a desire in our flesh to want to judge those who are inside as soon as we receive light and knowledge. However, this judgment is worthless because it is nota judgment that comes from the anointing. The judgment in this light does not include grace, but a person who judges according to the anointing has judged themself first. Therefore, they know what it is like to be judged and how it feels, and they can have a compassion that someone who has not judged themself cannot possess, because they have not personally been tested.

We do not know all things in this light and knowledge, because there is still sin to be cleansed away. But in the anointing we know all things and can therefore make a righteous judgment—accompanied with the grace that always comes with the judgments of Christ. To God, the Lord, belong escapes from death. If a person only judges according to the light, no opportunity is given for escape, because the flesh, with the law of sin in its members, influences the judgment and makes it unjust.

“Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.” Jas. 4:11.

Speaking evil of your brother or backbiting him is another way of judging him; but when you do that, you come under the judgment of the law, and you need to be cleansed through the forgiveness of sins. In such a case, the desire to judge defiles the person themself, and the judgment that was intended for “inside” does not take place.

If this was relevant in the time of the Corinthians, who in spite of their abundance in speech, knowledge, and zeal lacked the wisdom to judge inside, then we can be certain that the same is true today. Think about this when you want to judge, so that your judgment will not come back onto your own head.

There are many instructors in Christ, but not many fathers. 1 Cor. 4:15. These instructors would certainly like to be involved in passing judgment. However, I believe that I have the backing of the Scriptures—and the testimony of God confirms it all the more—when I dare to say: Wait to pass judgment until you have begotten spiritual children yourself, and practice your judgments on them first before you go further.