Christian Judgement
Spiritual Judgement is not Secular Judgmentalism
After publishing the last study, One Faith, I happened to watch a movie starring a well-known “Christian” celebrity portraying a God-fearing grandfather caring for his granddaughter due to circumstances depicted through the storyline of the movie.
There was one scene in particular that lends itself as a contrast to the high points of One Faith and wanted to touch on it before moving on to the subject of this study.
All that for context as you read the script of one scene between the grandfather and granddaughter when he encourages her to rely on “faith” to get her through.
Here are the quoted captions from the scene:
Grandfather: “Are you still worried about your mom?”
Granddaughter: “I always am.”
Grandfather: “Honey, God is watching over “mother’s name”.”
Granddaughter: “How can you be so sure? That God is watching over her?”
Grandfather: “I believe it in my heart. He is.”
Granddaughter: “Is there any actual proof?”
Grandfather:
“Well, sometimes, “granddaughter’s name”, the only thing that can lift us up, the only thing that can see us through those difficult times is the simple act of having faith.”
“See, having faith comes from the heart, not just from the mind. It’s not mathematical. It’s not rational. You just feel it. You know it.”
“And the most important thing about faith, it’s all or nothing. You can’t do faith halfway.”
Granddaughter: “Hmm. I knew you were going to say something like that.”
The words spoken in this scene, for me, are an example of doctrine propagated by “Big religion” that I believe perpetuates spiritual immaturity in believers by this touchy feely, mumbo-jumbo, “Christiany” sounding teaching, because that’s exactly what it is. It is teaching, it’s a doctrine.
It’s emotionalism disguised or packaged in a “Christian” cloak if you will.
And the reason I think these things is because of the definition of “faith”, which we reviewed in One Faith, coupled with God’s written process for becoming the faithful in Christ:
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
So, faith is rational.
Faith is a deliberate, mindful choice to first of all hear God’s word, and then once known, decide to believe God’s word as written or not. And if you choose to believe the word of God, only then do you have faith.
Now, at the same time, knowing and believing the word of God gives people reason for joy, for a heartfelt peace from understanding His grace, his salvation poured out unto the world through his Son, our Lord and savior, Jesus the Christ. However, faith itself is not a “feeling”; it’s something known, something believed, and trusted in that order.
On to the next subject...
Judgement.
I thought I’d just do a bunch of word searches of the many grammatical forms of the word “judgement” found in the bible and quickly realized how extensive the study would have to be to cover every variation. It would also be academic and boring all at the same time.
So, instead, I’m going to try to bring in some “real world” disagreements among the heavy hitters of “Big Religion” in an attempt to illustrate how Christians are to apply scripture regarding “judgment” in today’s version of the on-going secular vs. Christian spiritual battle.
And as I’ve said before, the secular world includes so-called “Christians” who choose to make exceptions, allowances, and accommodations for layers of degeneracy becoming more prevalent in secular society as time goes on.
But before we get to the current examples I intend to use in this study, it is necessary to at least point out the various Greek words that are translated as judge, judgest, and judgment in scripture.
This will also give kind of a top-down understanding of who, when, and why judgement happens among Christians and also between Christians and unbelievers, the secularists, atheists, etc.
This is somewhat of a complicated issue and for what it’s worth, I’m not claiming to have all the answers, but hope to offer something here to help readers sort out how to live in knowledge and understanding of Paul’s teachings on the subject of “judgement”.
So first, here are the “academics” and as usual, we’ll focus on Paul’s use of the word in his epistles, teaching believers that one day we shall judge angels and should very well be able to judge among ourselves in this life.
1 Corinthians 6:1-4
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge (krínō) the world? and if the world shall be judged (krínō) by you, are ye unworthy to judge (kritḗrion) the smallest matters?
Know ye not that we shall judge (krínō) angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
If then ye have judgments (kritḗrion) of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
A quick aside:
For those unaware or unsure, despite “Big religion” teaching that “Sainthood” is somehow reserved for the “most Good” among us, notice Paul refers to all believers of his gospel as saints.
Not slighting those who have been called saints for their many charitable acts in this life, just making the point that Christians who believe his gospel are “the saints”.
Moving on…
Just gonna scratch the surface:
Here are the Strong’s definitions for six Greek words Paul uses in his epistles that translate to some form of the word “judgement” listed in numerical order:
Strong’s G350
ἀνακρίνω anakrínō, an-ak-ree'-no; from G303 and G2919; properly, to scrutinize, i.e. (by implication) investigate, interrogate, determine:—ask, question, discern, examine, judge, search.
Strong’s G1106
γνώμη gnṓmē, gno'-may; from G1097; cognition, i.e. (subjectively) opinion, or (objectively) resolve (counsel, consent, etc.):—advice, + agree, judgment, mind, purpose, will.
Strong’s G2632
κατακρίνω katakrínō, kat-ak-ree'-no; from G2596 and G2919; to judge against, i.e. sentence:—condemn, damn.
Strong’s G2917
κρίμα kríma, kree'-mah; from G2919; a decision (the function or the effect, for or against ("crime")):—avenge, condemned, condemnation, damnation, + go to law, judgment.
Strong’s G2919
κρίνω krínō, kree'-no; properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish:—avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.
Strong’s G2922
κριτήριον kritḗrion, kree-tay'-ree-on; neuter of a presumed derivative of G2923; a rule of judging ("criterion"), i.e. (by implication) a tribunal:—to judge, judgment (seat).
Six Greek words describing, essentially, three different “types” of judgement:
Of Scrutiny.
Of knowing the truth of God.
Of a mental or judicial decision resulting in condemnation.
Now read these next three passages from Romans chapter 2 and 1 Corinthians chapters 1 and 2. Each form of the word “judgment” used is bolded along with the corresponding Greek word from Strong’s Concordance shown next to it.
This is a way to see how the different Greek words translated to the various forms of “judgement” track through these passages:
Romans 2:1-16
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest (krínō): for wherein thou judgest (krínō) another, thou condemnest (katakrínō) thyself; for thou that judgest (krínō) doest the same things.
But we are sure that the judgment (kríma) of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest (krínō) them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment (kríma) of God?
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment (kríma) of God;
Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
For there is no respect of persons with God.
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged (krínō) by the law;
(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
In the day when God shall judge (krínō) the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
1 Corinthians 1:9-10
God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment (gnṓmē).
1 Corinthians 2:12-16
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (anakrínō) .
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things (anakrínō), yet he himself is judged (anakrínō) of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
So, what I understand from these passages is what I assume most rational and studied believers understand: we have a conscience for a reason. We can ignore it, we can bury it, we can sear it, but it’s still there in each of us as it was in Adam so that we can know, and do know right from wrong.
We know good and evil.
To argue otherwise is foolish.
I also understand by these passages that we can be discerning without condemning. There is a difference.
Most know and would agree that we all have the innate ability to know the truth of any and all moral issues of life. Yes, there are exceptions; some people are deficient in some measure. For most, we can “judge” right from wrong when given the details, from the simplest, inconsequential matters of the heart, to the most consequential.
It’s human nature to not want to be judged by others, family, friends, peers, etc., it’s a defense mechanism.
It’s also human nature to judge others, often before even knowing the first thing about any situation dealing with right and wrong.
What a conflict in terms.
“I judge you, don’t you dare judge me...”
What I aim to highlight is the on-going struggle between Christians who hope to somehow “embrace” the secular world as a way of inviting them to Christ and those Christians who purpose to keep themselves pure from the course of the world.
And it is a struggle. Search on any of the hot button issues within “Big Christianity” today and you find such varied opinions among supposed Christian denominations and organizations, i.e. “the camps”; it’s just one more manifestation of the division in and among so-called Christian circles.
A couple of current examples for the purpose of this study:
Some support women in the clergy, some don’t.
Some support homosexuality in the clergy and congregation, and some don’t.
Some support “church” as “Showtime”, some don’t.
Go down the list... There are many points of division.
And it probably doesn’t get much more “hot buttoned” than those.
The question before all bible believing Christians: What do we thus judge?
Again as examples:
Women in the Clergy, yes? Or, no?
Homosexuality yes? Or, no?
Needless to say, there are many opinions, and many people being tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine. (Eph 4:14)
Meanwhile, as “Big religion” is in disarray over those issues, the secular doctrine teaches that we are all precluded from making any judgment about any of the behaviors practiced among the children of disobedience.
Ephesians 2:2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
In their mind, there’s only one type of judgement when anyone dare call their morality (or lack of) in to question. If you “judge” them in their behavior, you are automatically being “judgmental” and condemning.
“Don’t you judge me...”
“It’s my life...”
“I do what I want...”
And predictably, the way it works is that no one is to judge them as they choose from among the deviant things in this life. And if you do “judge” them, they, in turn, “judge” you to be a whole host of condemning, sentencing “judgments” like “you’re a racist”, “you’re a homophobe”, “you’re a misogynist”, “you’re a fill-in-the-blank”.
Emotional blackmail by any other name is still emotional blackmail...
”If you love me, you will accept me as whoever and whatever I choose to identify as or with”
What a trap...
I can love you and still think your “life choices” are incompatible with Christianity and are “wrong”.
I know I’m not the only one who understands the twisted mental games these people engage in, lying to themselves, lying to their family, lying to friends...
Liars lying...
Pick a topic, any topic, and any Christian who takes a scriptural stance against any sinful behavior listed in Paul’s God inspired epistles, can expect to be castigated, cancelled, or worse for “daring” to discern and believe that those who do such things are doing “wrong”.
Well, isn’t that the ongoing spiritual battle being waged in heavenly places?
God says, “stand with me”... and the righteous...
Satan says, “stand with me”... and the children of disobedience...
For me, in application, Christians are to stand apart from those who sway from the truth. “Swaying” from the truth is to “compromise” the truth, is to believe something wrong about God and his word.
We’re not to conform, to be wishy-washy, to be accommodating, accepting…
We are to stand, to stand apart from them, to not keep company with them.
1 Corinthians 5:9-13
I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
For what have I to do to judge (krínō) them also that are without? do not ye judge (krínō) them that are within?
But them that are without God judgeth (krínō) . Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Are you “with” the unrighteous?
As most Christians see today, in the secularist camp there are no bounds on moral depravity as time goes on as they just keep pushing the limits on so-called “societal norms”.
You name it, they want to “normalize” it, any and all deviancy, any and all degeneracy.
And fully expect everyone, especially Christians, to “accept”, to “affirm”, to “embrace”...
...to not be so “judgmental”...
And then there’s what God has to say about it all.
In short, he would have us be discerning and do something. As insensitive as that might sound, our discernment of not only ourselves, but also believing brothers and sisters, as well as non-believers who engage in things we know and understand to be wrong or sinful should lead us to follow scripture.
The meat of scripture, the plain and simple truth of God’s “instruction in righteousness” all comes down to the choices we make after accepting God’s free gift of salvation as we live out our new lives as new creatures, as saints; pretty rudimentary stuff.
You can’t have it both ways...
On the one hand, claim to be a believer...
And on the other hand, choose to continue in adultery, fornication, the works of the flesh and/or fellowship with those who do.
The point is as with any and all scripture, God says what he says, means what he means; like it or not, believe it or not, live it or not.
We’ve covered this next passage in past studies that makes it pretty clear what’s right and what’s wrong. Again, it resonates with our conscience:
Galatians 5:16-26
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
So, we have those instructions and we also have these:
1 Corinthians 14:33-35
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but [they are commanded] to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
And finally these instructions:
Romans 1:18-32
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Now, I ask you: how can God’s words be parsed any other way to suggest somehow that Christians are to “accept” and embrace any of these behaviors?
God instructs us to put these things off and to not keep company with those who choose these vile affections...
1 Corinthians 5:9-13
I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
For what have I to do to judge (krínō) them also that are without? do not ye judge (krínō) them that are within?
But them that are without God judgeth (krínō). Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
That’s the “hard-pill” of scripture:
God says what he says, means what he means.
What do we do in response?
As assignment of sorts and to wind this study down, with all these things in mind, read 1 Corinthians chapter 4 through 6. As you read, similar to what we've done in this study, track the Greek word for every occurrence of “judge”, “judgest”, “judgement”, “discern”, and “condemnest”, to get a fuller context and understanding of what Paul teaches believers about their new identity, their new life, their new fellowship, their new character, and their stand or cause in discernment of, and apart from, the secular, unbelieving world.
The take away for me is that God instructs those in Christ to discern right from wrong, to know who among you are living contrary to his will, who show themselves to be in unbelief in their behaviors, who we are to put from among us.
We are to judge, i.e. discern right from wrong, truth from a lie, good from evil.
And stand apart from them and have no fellowship with them.
And finally, despite their refusal to be corrected, their outright, in your face, disobedience and unbelief, we are not to condemn or sentence the secularists/unbelievers. We’re simply to not keep company with them unless they repent and turn to God, and in his grace, put off their sinful choices and behaviors as the faithful in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged (anakrínō) of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge (anakrínō) not mine own self.
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth (anakrínō) me is the Lord.
Therefore judge (krínō) nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
After all, isn’t that the “cut to the chase”, “bottom line”, “sum-total”, “spiritual front-line” purpose of God giving the world his word; his spoken, recorded, preserved, pure, inspired, written, published, translated words for all to know?
To judge whether God be true or a liar... and choose. Are you within? Or, are you without?
Is that too plain?
Is that too black and white?
Is that too “one way or the highway”?
Or, is it faith?
You be the judge...
Thank you for reading Without the Camp