The act of correction involves judgment, a fact which causes those of professing Christendom to refrain from righting obvious Scriptural wrongs. Another aspect of this problem is that most church people do not know the difference between truth and error. Due to a lack of Scriptural knowledge, what God declares to be wrong is often believed to be right by those who hold up His Word as “proof.” Because of either a misunderstanding of Scripture or a lack of Scriptural knowledge, being labeled “judgmental” is considered a terrible insult. What most do not understand is that God is the judge, has already judged, and has recorded His judgments in His Holy Bible. When one corrects another one is simply revealing what God has said in His Standard about the subject. The core problem involves that Standard–His Holy Bible.

All church errors are the result of self-inflicted ignorance of God’s judgments, will, way, walk, etc. In spite of having at least one Bible in every home, church people deliberately avoid it, preferring to let their leaders do for them what God commands that they do for themselves–study it (2 Tim. 2:15) and prove all spiritual Truths by it (1 Thes. 5:21). Most do not know that they will be judge by the very Words they refuse to learn, believe and obey (Jn. 12:48). As a result, the billions within professing Christendom refuse to judge either themselves or their spiritual peers by that Holy Standard.

As I was told some time ago when I corrected a professing Christian on a Biblical matter, “Remember that God said: ‘Judge not.'” Which He did–at the BEGINNING of the statement. The person correcting me did what everyone does–stop reading when he/she has read what he/she wants to read. Instead of following in their footsteps, let us obey God and read the entire passage. Let us then STUDY the subject matter: “Judge not (so) that you be not judged. For with the same judgment you judge you will be judged …. Why do you point out the speck in your (spiritual) brother’s eye while ignoring the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you remove the speck in your brother’s eye while ignoring the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first REMOVE THE LOG FROM YOUR OWN EYE, THEN YOU CAN SEE CLEARLY TO REMOVE THE SPECK FROM YOUR BROTHER’S EYE” (Mat. 7:1-5). The command for judgment and correction within the church is also brought out in 1 Peter 4:17,18: “For the time has come for JUDGMENT to begin in the house of God, and if it begin with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if the righteous will barely be saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner end up?” Several truths are revealed in these two passages. 1) Judgment within the church is commanded by the Lord. 2) Judgment is the responsibility of godly saints. 3) Only godly saints can be saved. 4) The ungodly inside and outside the church will not be saved. 5) In the eyes of God, the “ungodly,” the “sinner” and those who “do not obey the gospel of God” are one in the same whether inside or outside the church.

First Peter 4:19 reminds us that those who judge and correct others in spiritual matters will suffer for doing so. “Wherefore, let them that SUFFER according to the will of God (that they judge and correct others) commit the keeping of their souls to Him through WELL-DOING (judging and correcting) as to a faithful Creator.” Note that correctors will suffer for obeying God but are to continue to obey Him while committing the keeping of their souls to Him. To be continued. L.J.