What is Judging and how does it relate to discernment, witnessing and preaching?

People twisting scripture such as [color=990066](judge not lest you be judged)[/color] has prevented more christians from witnessing and telling people the plan of salvation and HIS love and HIS SPIRIT being able to change lives than any thing I know. That is exactly what the devil intends when he put thoughts in minds to stop God's people from proclaiming the good news and speaking about man's sinfulness. We know many people quote this lie or half truth, some quote it in error because they have a poor understanding of HIS WORD and promote it also because they don't want to hear his word or talk about any sin that might fall in their camp, in fear of the sin convicting giving up their pleasures for a season. They want to stay right where there at in their sinful and lost state and make believe, stay in their fantacy world that Jesus is not really coming back and they are going live for ever on this earth. The reason I know this condition so well myself is I spent almost 50 years in this state and used the same lie. Not to say I have arrived but have grown in HIS WORD and want to know more. And I also myself I know have room to learn from others more solid in HIS WORD and more seasoned. I can only speak of what I know and must.

When you give someone God's Word on a subject that lines up with the whole council of God and that is the key, lining all points up. Not just pick and choose, and we do that and it reveals sin in their life or error in their theology, have we judged them, or is it HIS WORD has judged? Is it judging when we discern sin in a life or an error in theology? Is judging really when we give an earthly verdict of guilty and we also administer that earthly punishment then we judged. Is that really the judging those passages in the Bible refers to. Don't let no liberal theologeon get away with quoting that passage unless one is guilty of all three counts, determination of guilt, appropriate punishment and sentence and administer the punishment. Then you would be subject to the next verse of whatever measure would be used to judge with will be measure back to you. We all know God did not give us that authority to do all three. We are to speak HIS WORD, call sin what is, sin and HIM handle the rest. We are to forgive others, speak HIS WORD on all subjects in life and leave room for God's wrath. If the peacemakers inherit the earth and they are God's children, and they will inherit the earth after God rebuilds the new Jereusalem.

Blessings moe_mac,

One painful (but liberating) truth the Spirit recently revealed to me is that I am not to preach anything to anyone, saved or unsaved, that I'm not fulfilling. If I can't produce 10% of Christ's commands (or fruit), to be charitable to the fatherless, the widows, the single mothers, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to visit the prisoners, to love my enemies, etc, how can I be a witness for Christ?

Our persecutor, Satan, rails against sinners.

Our Intercessor, Jesus, forgave sinners and turned his wrath against the hypocrites.

Who's righteous then? One fallen man who points his finger and condemns another fallen man caught in his sins? Or the fallen man who looks up to Heaven, prays to the Lord to have mercy on another poor sinner like himself... and doesn't speak a word?

Persecutor or Intercessor? Which are you?

Corey_H wrote:
Blessings moe_mac,

One painful (but liberating) truth the Spirit recently revealed to me is that I am not to preach anything to anyone, saved or unsaved, that I'm not fulfilling. If I can't produce 10% of Christ's commands (or fruit), to be charitable to the fatherless, the widows, the single mothers, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to visit the prisoners, to love my enemies, etc, how can I be a witness for Christ?

Our persecutor, Satan, rails against sinners.

Our Intercessor, Jesus, forgave sinners and turned his wrath against the hypocrites.

Who's righteous then? One fallen man who points his finger and condemns another fallen man caught in his sins? Or the fallen man who looks up to Heaven, prays to the Lord to have mercy on another poor sinner like himself... and doesn't speak a word?

Persecutor or Intercessor? Which are you?

moe_mac rote:
To persecute another, then would have to prosecute. Judge the sin, decide the punishment and then carry it out. My thoughts are to interceed with the truth to keep the prosecutor (satan from prosecuting the people and the prevent the (judge) Jesus from having to Judge them. As I said, merely speaking God's Word is not judging. When one give God's Word he is interceeding for himself and others. Now if I speak a truth I would be much more careful of not being guilty of that truth I was speaking, especially having a plank in my eye, therefore speaking HIS truth could make it possible to live a more holy life and could bring through HIS SPIRT bring about more holiness in my own sinful activities. If the phrase that is popularly used by the liberals as "judge not least you be judged", then the preacher would have a very difficult time preaching the messages God gave him to preach. Truth is truth regardless of who toes are stepped on. Of course, if one wanted to just trash any holiness living and stand on their blessed assurance, then I guess there would be no reason to call sin, sin. And if one did attempt to get a speck out of his brothers eye when he had a plank in his, my question is, if Jesus has saved him and indwelled him with HIS SPIRIT why has his SPIRIT not given the power to get rid of the plank and made the the person a new creation and changed their life and why is that plank there. Is their no power in HIS SPIRIT to help one overcome things in their life. Not to perfection, but surely, not a plank still there.

answer: intercessor

1 Cor. 5:12-13

12. "For what have I to do to judge them also that are [outside]? Do not ye judge them that are within." 13. But them that are [outside] God judgeth. Therefore, put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

Prov. 27:5 "Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed."

Prov. 27:6 " Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."

Prov. 28:23 "He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward then he who flatters with the tongue."

The rule of thumb has to be LOVE. We can't go around telling people there mistakes and errors, with possibly the same issues we may have. I believe it should be an itimate thing between solid friends. I have a dear brother who will and has confronted me about something a few years ago. I was in sin and hidding. He and his wife invited me over for dinner and they talked to plainly and bluntly. Because they love me and care for me. Did I get offend, NO, I was repented and ashamed. becasue I knew better. But sometimes you need those that are close to you to rattle your cage. It has to be in the right spirit of love and discernment.

In closing I believe in firm church discipline, I believe in loving your brother enough to confront a problem he or she may not be seeing. But it should never be someone you hardly even know. There should be a strong relationship.

Prov. 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."

Blessing to all
Mike

moe_mac said

if Jesus has saved him and indwelled him with HIS SPIRIT why has his SPIRIT not given the power to get rid of the plank and made the the person a new creation and changed their life and why is that plank there. Is their no power in HIS SPIRIT to help one overcome things in their life. Not to perfection, but surely, not a plank still there.

You hit the nail on the head. We're all works in progress and the Spirit keeps on chipping away at us until we're dead.

I suppose a better way of stating my point is that there are certain folks and organizations today that preach repentance and Jesus in a way that is light years away from the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus was patient and had compassion on the sinners He taught. John baptised anyone who repented.

However, the ones they rebuked were the hypocritical Pharisees, Saducees, and even their own disciples.

I wonder what the woman at the well would have thought of God Incarnate if He had yelled at her...

Or if the woman caught in adultery would have been saved if He were to point His finger and accuse her in front of everyone...

Jesus rebuked those in the religious establishment who knew better.

He worked patiently and lovingly with those unfamiliar with religion.