Purpose Driven or Scripture Driven? - Way of Life Literature
Purpose Driven or Scripture Driven? - Way of Life Literature Purpose Driven or Scripture Driven? - Way of Life Literature
the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able tosave and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?”Like Matthew 7:1, Romans 14:4, and 1 Corinthians 4:5,James 4:11 is frequently misused by the ecumenical crowd tosupport the false doctrine that Christians are forbidden tojudge doctrine and practice. To make these verses teach thatChristians can never judge, though, throws the Bible intoconfusion. There is a right judgment and a wrong judgment.Many verses command us to judge righteous judgment (Luke12:57; John 7:24; 1 Cor. 2:15). We are to judge preaching (1Cor. 14:29), sin in the churches (1 Cor. 5:3), issues in thechurches (1 Cor. 6:5), sin in our own lives (1 Cor. 11:31),false teachers (Mat. 7:15; Rom. 16:17), spirits (1 John 4:1),etc.When, then, is James forbidding? The context clarifies thematter.First, James is referring to speaking evil (Jam. 4:11).Proper judging is to speak the truth in love. The truth is notevil and speaking the truth in love is not evil. The type ofjudging condemned by James is judging in the sense oftearing down, tale bearing, and slander. It is judging with anevil intent. When one judges sin and error scripturally, it isnever with a desire to hurt people. The Pharisees judgedJesus in an evil manner (Jn. 7:52). The false teachers atGalatia and Corinth judged Paul in the same manner, tryingto tear him down in the eyes of the churches (2 Cor. 10:10).This is what James forbids.Second, James is referring to judging in a way that iscontrary to the law of God (“there is one lawgiver,” Jam.4:12). This refers to judging others by human standardsrather than divine, thus setting oneself up as the lawgiver.The Pharisees did this when they judged Jesus by their130
traditions (Mat. 15:1-3). On the other hand, when a believerjudges things by God’s Word in a godly and compassionatemanner, he is not exercising his own judgment; he isexercising God’s judgment. When, for example, I say that itis wrong for a woman to be a pastor, or it is a shame for aman to have long hair, or those who love the world areadulterers, this is not my judgment or law; it is God’s (1 Tim.2:12; 1 Cor. 11:14; Jam. 4:4).For more on verses misused by the ecumenical crowd, seeTHINGS HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD: A COMMENTARYON DIFFICULT PASSAGES on 1 Sam. 24:4-10; Matt. 7:1-1;18:15-17; Mk. 9:38-40; John 13:35; 17:21; Acts 5:38-39;James 4:11-12. This book if available in print and eBookeditions from Way of Life Literature, www.wayoflife.org131
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traditions (Mat. 15:1-3). On the other hand, when a believerjudges things by God’s W<strong>or</strong>d in a godly and compassionatemanner, he is not exercising his own judgment; he isexercising God’s judgment. When, f<strong>or</strong> example, I say that itis wrong f<strong>or</strong> a woman to be a past<strong>or</strong>, <strong>or</strong> it is a shame f<strong>or</strong> aman to have long hair, <strong>or</strong> those who love the w<strong>or</strong>ld areadulterers, this is not my judgment <strong>or</strong> law; it is God’s (1 Tim.2:12; 1 C<strong>or</strong>. 11:14; Jam. 4:4).F<strong>or</strong> m<strong>or</strong>e on verses misused by the ecumenical crowd, seeTHINGS HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD: A COMMENTARYON DIFFICULT PASSAGES on 1 Sam. 24:4-10; Matt. 7:1-1;18:15-17; Mk. 9:38-40; John 13:35; 17:21; Acts 5:38-39;James 4:11-12. This book if available in print and eBookeditions from <strong>Way</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>Literature</strong>, www.way<strong>of</strong>life.<strong>or</strong>g131
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