Judge! Judge Not!

How often is heard the cry from one who has received a word of Law, "Judge not, that you be not judged?" (Matthew 7:1) It says, "Don't tell me what to do... you have no right." It's a way of thinking that demands that the self is trump. If it is good for me, then it is good. Someone else's opinion about what I think is best is simply that... their opinion.

No, the self can't be trump. But Love is. Love says, "I must show you how you offend against your God while taking pleasure in the whims of Satan." Love that is motivated by the crucified and resurrected Christ will proclaim that sin offends against our God. Sin separates us from salvation. Love, proceeds from the Paraclete when He convicts the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. (John 16:8) That is same Spirit whom the Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, "If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld." (John 20:23) Therefore, your pastor is called to convict in the stead of the One Who has called him to speak and act on God's behalf. It is love that expels the sexually immoral from among the Christian congregation, as St. Paul wrote, "You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of flesh, so that his spirit may be saved." (I Cor. 5:5) Love delivers wickedly erring Christian men over to Satan so that they might know what No-Love is, and knowing the horror of No-Love, might return to Love. "For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. Purge the evil person from among you." (1 Cor. 5:12-13)

"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you." (Matthew 7:6) The pearls are the saints of the holy catholic church. (Matthew 13:45) Purge the wicked pearls, so that they might be saved. It is their best interest that they be purged. Salvation is the hoped blessing of purging wicked pearls. Purge, yes judge, with the cross ever before you. Purge in love, meaning that your brother in Christ might be driven to the well spring of the Gospel. Purge in love, so that repentance and forgiveness of sins abound. Purge in love, so that "his spirit might be saved."