Justin Mangonel said:
Dear All,
When, if ever, is it proper to judge another man's servant? Should we judge others according to our doctrine? If so when and how? What if others don't agree with our judgement? Should we have no fellowship with them?
To me, being judgemental is counter productive. It is like turning on your fellow soldier in the midst of a battle because he mismatched his socks. I also feel that most judgementalness does not issue from a good place for if we accuse our brethren don't we become like the accuser of the brethren?
Are we to be the doctrine police? If we are then why and how do we make our arrests? What should we do with the precieved heretics amongst us?
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 - Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
Isaiah 58:1 - Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
Ezekiel 33:8-9 - When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Jude 1:3-4 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 18:15-17 - Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. d if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Revelation 14:8 - And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Revelation 17:2 - With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Revelation 18:3-5 - For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
It is correct for us to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to us. It is correct for us not to yoke unequally with those who reject the pillars of faith we believe in. It is correct for us to warn others who are in sin. It is correct for us to pay attention to the doctrines taught, as the call in Revelation is to come out of the churches which spread lying abominations, and that we are also called to be seperate from the people. If you cannot agree to the pillars of faith, you must step out.
What's not correct, is to set yourself up as a judge, and condemn someone to hell, that their eternal life has already been decided. It would be wise to warn the erring ones decidedly, that if they do not repent of their wicked acts, they will have to suffer the consequences. While you love the human being, you show the utter distate for sin. For this I mean, open and bold sin. No one is asking you to go around and become fault-finding with your brethern. Everyone has their struggles in life, which the love of Christ, and His grace will cover, if they repent. Eventually they will overcome, if they continue on. But, for open and bold sin, you must rebuke. They may not know that what they are doing is sin. And as for new-believers, I'd be careful shoving everything down their throats, lest they become overwhelmed. The Lord revealed everything to you that you know thus far in due time. Have patience, and longsuffering with them.
For doctrines, you bring them forth, and earnestly contend with them for the truth. If they will have no part of the truth, they have become a heretick (after the second admonition, found in Titus 3:10). No one should be setting themself up as a judge over their brethern. However, this does not mean that someone who hears the truth will not feel judged. To bear a strong, simple testimony, filled with love, seasoned with grace, yet sharp as a two edged sword, is not sin, nor is it judging. It is being faithful in your duty. And such a testimony will bring upon you a raging persecution from some people, in which some will actually claim that you are judging them, when in fact you have done no such thing.
