1 Cor 5:12-13
For what have I do 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."
So often I hear this on the forums, "dont judge me!" But Paul asks, "is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?" The Question is rhetorical prompting a positive answer. And almost as often I hear "you dont know whats in his heart," Well as this is a forum where our voices are heard, I cant help but be reminded of Matthew 15:18
But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.
So what lies in the depth of your heart is made known because you wear it on your sleeve when you post. So let us be mindful of what we say.
You may say now, wait a second. "Read the sermon on the mount, it says remove the speck from your own eye, and dont forget the text that says, let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Surely this means that one must be sinless to judge. No it does not, but rather one must be right with the Lord (cf 1 John 1:7ff). Look at Paul, unless we forget that he is the self proclaimed worst of the worst in terms of sinners.
We, however must be sincere in our judgement. See the pharisees were guilty of this. They would judge, then turn around and do the same thing or worse. They did not have their brothers best intentions at the forefront, which is what should be the sole basis in correcting someone.
To sum it up, get right with God, have him remove the plank in your own eye so you are free from hypocrisy, put your brother first, and correct in all gentleness. This is the proper way to judge our brothers, and should the brother caught in sin refuse to repent 'purge the evil one from among you.'
For what have I do 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."
So often I hear this on the forums, "dont judge me!" But Paul asks, "is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?" The Question is rhetorical prompting a positive answer. And almost as often I hear "you dont know whats in his heart," Well as this is a forum where our voices are heard, I cant help but be reminded of Matthew 15:18
But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.
So what lies in the depth of your heart is made known because you wear it on your sleeve when you post. So let us be mindful of what we say.
You may say now, wait a second. "Read the sermon on the mount, it says remove the speck from your own eye, and dont forget the text that says, let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Surely this means that one must be sinless to judge. No it does not, but rather one must be right with the Lord (cf 1 John 1:7ff). Look at Paul, unless we forget that he is the self proclaimed worst of the worst in terms of sinners.
We, however must be sincere in our judgement. See the pharisees were guilty of this. They would judge, then turn around and do the same thing or worse. They did not have their brothers best intentions at the forefront, which is what should be the sole basis in correcting someone.
To sum it up, get right with God, have him remove the plank in your own eye so you are free from hypocrisy, put your brother first, and correct in all gentleness. This is the proper way to judge our brothers, and should the brother caught in sin refuse to repent 'purge the evil one from among you.'