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We Need to Stop Judging One Another Prepared by Chris Reeves * 31-W church of Christ Gospel Meeting * July 27, 2016

Bible Judging There is a time and place for judging another person (1 Cor. 5:12) However, there are times when we are not to judge another! Judging others when we are not supposed to has led to many local church splits and divisions between brethren

Bible Rules for Judging Do not judge hypocritically – holding someone to a different standard than your own (Mt. 7:1-5, 12) Am I really being fair to all parties involved? Do not judge according to appearance – assuming you know what you do not know (Jn. 7:24; 8:15; see Isa. 11:3) Do I have all the facts straight?

Bible Rules for Judging Do not judge scruples – binding your opinion on another (Rom. 14:3, 13) Am I forcing my opinion on others? Do not judge suspiciously – supposing that you know the motives of another and thinking the worst of him (1 Cor. 13:5; 1 Tim. 6:4) Do I hold my brother in high esteem?

Bible Rules for Judging Do not judge rashly – quickly criticizing without giving time for truth or wise counsel (Prov. 18:13) Am I rushing to conclusions? Do not judge without doing something yourself to fix it – critical of a problem without offering a solution (Mt. 7:4-5) Am I really helping to solve the problem?

Points to Ponder Would you act differently if you could not drive to another congregation? Am I going to another congregation with the exact same situation? Do you act this way in your marriage & family, or with your job? Are you too “conservative”, binding where God has not bound?

Romans 12:10, 16 10 In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another … 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits. 

Galatians 5:14-15 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

Galatians 5:25-26 25 If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk. 26 Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.

Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Philippians 2:1-2 If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, 2 make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;

Philippians 2:3-4 3 doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; 4 not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

Colossians 3:12-13 12 Put on therefore, as God’s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;13 forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:

Colossians 3:14-15 14 and above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful. 

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 14 And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the faint-hearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all. 15 See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all.

1 Timothy 5:1-2 Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren: 2 the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity. 

James 3:17-18 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.

1 Peter 3:8-9 8 Finally, be ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humble-minded: 9 not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing…