One of the most common phrases I hear in a certain segment of the Church is, "Don't judge me!". This has always rubbed me wrong. Especially since this phrase typically came out of the mouths of people who were on that slippery slope of drifting from God. It's really unfortunate that our society has lied to the Church body to believe that no one (even Church leaders and ministry) has the right to judge you. I suppose that is why it always bothered me.
Growing up as a teenager, I spent a lot of my Bible readying/studying time in Paul's epistles. It didn't take me long to realize that God's plan for the Church and Church leadership was to "watch over our souls" and to guard us on our spiritual journey. When I had a leader point out error (dare I say sin) in my life, deep down inside I knew that it was the Church functioning as God intended it to. Maybe not immediately, but once I got past my flesh I understood this to be true.
I never really took the time to build my understanding of this idea with scriptures but it just landed in my lap the other day. Reading it in the New Living translation has the greatest impact in this context.
1 Corinthians 5:12 NLT
It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.
Wow! If that isn't a game changer for some people's doctrine, I don't know what will be. Take time to read that whole chapter and you'll see that Paul is saying that all the context of "don't judge me" that is in the Bible is directed to outsiders who haven't been saved yet, people who haven't yet experienced Bible salvation. The Church and those who claim to be a part of it really are on the opposite side of this story... we are placed here (again, especially the ministry) to look out for each other. That's one of the strongest values for Church membership and involvement.
Let's learn that value of Church and let our pride fall. Once we do this, we will realize the true power of the Church body... the Body of Christ.
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