JUDGE NOT....WAIT, WHAT?

According to Jesus, Christians are supposed to be the light of the world, exposing those things which men love to do in the cloak of darkness (Mt. 5:14; Jn. 3:19-20).  We are also to be the salt of the earth (Mt. 5:13).  Salt is a preservative, and in the Bible, it is connected to God's covenant with man (Num. 18:19; 2 Chron. 13:5); it was to be used with offerings to Him (Lev. 2:13; Ezek. 43:24; Mk. 9:49); and it even had healing properties (2 Kg. 2:21).  Therefore, I believe Christians are to acknowledge their relationship with God, we are to be seasoned with His character in our relationship with others(Col. 4:6), and that we can be use of God to be the instruments of  healing to a sick and dying world.

If we are to be light to reveal sin, and we are to be salt to preserve what is good, then we are obviously meant to discern between that which is holy, and that which is sin:  we are to judge!  Here are just ten verses that tell believers to be judges:

 1.  "Judges and officers shalt thou make in all thy gates..." (Deut. 16:18).

 2.  "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (Jn. 7:24).

 3.  "...mark them which cause divisions...and avoid them" (Rom. 16:17).

 4.  "But he that is spiritual judges all things..." (1 Cor. 2:15).

 5.  "...the saints shall judge the world..." (1 Cor. 6:2).

 6.  "...set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church" (1 Cor. 6:4).

 7.  "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness..." (Eph. 5:11).

 8.  "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear" (1 Tim. 5:20).

 9.  "...rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith" (Titus 1:13).

10.  "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16).

 

You must judge if you are not to even eat with a brother

who you know is living in sin (1 Cor. 5:11).