Who Is My Judge?

Are Christians forbidden to judge?  They are indeed forbidden to do only what Christ can do and that is determining the fate of the individual as to hell or heaven.  John 5:24 says, "...he who hears my word and believes in Him who sent me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment" (NKJV).  Christians are only subject to the bema or tribunal of Christ and not the Great White Throne Judgment at the last day.  That is only the destiny of the lost.  As believers we will not be judged for our sins, but only our works are put through the fire to see if they are worthy of reward--some will burn like wood, hay, and straw. 

Paul urges the church to judge those inside the church (1 Cor. 5:12 says, "...Do you not judge those who are inside [the church]?")  if they are living in sin, a little sin "in the camp" will be like leaven to the whole body.  "But those who are outside God judges."  This is the issue of church discipline which is not really practiced much today in the evangelical church.   Jesus said, "When you judge, judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24).  The measure we judge will be returned to us likewise  ("Judge not, lest you be judged' (Mat. 7:1); therefore, it is wise to be careful in judgment (if we don't judge between true and false teachers where would we be?).  Pope Francis said today, "Who am I to judge?"  He is shirking his responsibility as a leader in the church and he will be responsible for this stand.    He was referring to homosexual priests.  The Bible condemns homosexuality; it is not a matter of judging but of preaching the Word of God.   The prophets of old were known for denouncing sin and this is what is lacking in our churches today--God demands true repentance. 

We should fear the government when we disobey a law not only for conscience sake but also for punishment--God has ordained government as a means of restraint of evil.  If you're a believer in Christ and have never been judged by a fellow Christian, you haven't lived!  We all face this at times and learn to take the beam out of our own eye before removing the speck from our brother's eye.