A SPECIAL EDITION ARTICLEby Bishop Felizardo D. Abanto
One of the favorite arguments of those who want to change or those who want to compromise is "Judge not." An example is Rick Warren of the "Purpose Driven" fame. Warren says, "God warns us over and over not to criticize, compare, or judge each other. ... Whenever I judge another believer, four things instantly happen: I lose fellowship with God, I expose my own pride, I set myself to be judged by God, and I harm the fellowship of the church" (Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, Zondervan: p. 164). Those who agree with him say that we should not judge them according with regards to wearing pants for women, men sporting long hair, the kind of music they use, cooperating with the ecumenicals like Franklin Graham on evangelism, the version of the Bible they use, etc., etc.
"In typical New Evangelical fashion Warren makes no distinction between judging hypocritically (which is forbidden in Matthew 7) or judging on the basis of personal preference in matters not commanded in Scripture (which is forbidden in Romans 14) and judging on the basis of the Bible.
"Actually, the child of God has an obligation to judge everything by God’s Word. The believers at Corinth were rebuked because they were careless in this regard and were tolerant of false teachers (2 Cor. 11:1-4). The Bereans, on the other hand, were commended because they carefully tested everything by the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). The Bible says “he that is spiritual judgeth all things” (1 Cor. 2:15) and Jesus taught that we should “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). We are to judge preaching (1 Cor. 14:29) and sin in the churches (1 Cor. 5). We are to try the spirits (1 John 4:1).
"To test preachers and their message carefully by God’s Word is not a matter of pride, but wisdom and obedience" (David Cloud, "Rick Warren's Judge Not Ecumenism," O Timothy, June 2004, p. 15)
Members and brethren we should not be intimidated by the accusation that we are judgmental. As long as we hold and continue in the "things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them" (2 Timothy 3:14), we are safe and sound in the faith.
"In typical New Evangelical fashion Warren makes no distinction between judging hypocritically (which is forbidden in Matthew 7) or judging on the basis of personal preference in matters not commanded in Scripture (which is forbidden in Romans 14) and judging on the basis of the Bible.
"Actually, the child of God has an obligation to judge everything by God’s Word. The believers at Corinth were rebuked because they were careless in this regard and were tolerant of false teachers (2 Cor. 11:1-4). The Bereans, on the other hand, were commended because they carefully tested everything by the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). The Bible says “he that is spiritual judgeth all things” (1 Cor. 2:15) and Jesus taught that we should “judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). We are to judge preaching (1 Cor. 14:29) and sin in the churches (1 Cor. 5). We are to try the spirits (1 John 4:1).
"To test preachers and their message carefully by God’s Word is not a matter of pride, but wisdom and obedience" (David Cloud, "Rick Warren's Judge Not Ecumenism," O Timothy, June 2004, p. 15)
Members and brethren we should not be intimidated by the accusation that we are judgmental. As long as we hold and continue in the "things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them" (2 Timothy 3:14), we are safe and sound in the faith.
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