Questions & Answers 2, from the series, "Will the Real Rick Warren Please Stand Up?

Questions & Answers 2, from the series, "Will the Real Rick Warren Please Stand Up?
Brad Reiches
May 30 2007 12:32AM

I want to thank the many of you who prayed for me and encouraged me throughout last week.  I deeply, DEEPLY appreciate those of you who are interceding for me in these volatile, spiritual times.  There were some sincere concerns that were expressed that I would like to address.

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Wednesday, May 30, 2007
GodThoughtsWired!

"Questions & Answers"

Regarding Last Week's Series:  "Will the Real Rick Warren Please Stand Up?"

2

One sincere subscriber wrote,

"Once again your messages are always insightful and I always find them to be
true...however there is no reason to have a specific name in your e-mails...

The ideas your are promoting I perfectly agree with...judging Rick Warren I do not.
Judge and be Judged. If you truly think he has lost his way.. take it up
with him, not everyone else behind his back...that's gossiping."

This subscriber brings up three legitimate concerns:  a)  Naming names, b)  Judging others, and c) Gossip. 

Yesterday we took a look at the issue of "naming names." (I appreciated the immediate response of one subcriber who responded, "I am all for 'naming names'...how in the heck will people know where the error is other wise...it is absolutely necessary.  And you are correct, yes, 100% biblical!!").  By the way, have you taken the opportunity to study the biblical examples at the bottom of this page, yet?

CONCERN #2:  Judging Others?

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God

as a workman who does not need to be ashamed,

accurately handling the truth.  But avoid worldly

and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,

and their talk will spread like gangrene. 

Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus."

2 Timothy 2:15-17(bold mine)

So, is this an example of of Paul "judging" Hymenaeus and Philetus?  Is he in error here?  Is he guilty of Matthew 7:1, "Do not judge so that you will not be judged?"

And how 'bout,

"Make every effort to come to me soon;
for Demas, having loved this present world
has deserted me...Alexander the coppersmith
did me much harm; the Lord will repay him
according to his deeds.  Be on guard against him
yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching."
2 Timothy 4:10-15

Is the apostle Paul guilty of "judging" Alexander here?  How about "gossip?"  The answers are "no," and "no" ((for an in-depth discussion on the true definitions of "gossip," pleas click on GOSSIP)). 
The Bible verse, "Do not judge so that you will not be judged?" (Matt. 7: 1) is often wrongly applied, and even more often misunderstood.  The context of this passage (verses 1-5) reveals that Jesus is referring to hypocritical judgment.  While He condemns hypocricy, "Why do you look at the speck in your brothers eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye" (Matthew 7:3), the context actually affirms "righteous judgement."  "First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye" (7:5, bold mine).

Ironically, Matthew, chapter 7 is all about "judging" false prophets.  How can we know who they are unless we judge them by the Word of God?* 

"Do not judge according to appearance,
but judge with righteous judgement."
John 7:24

And just what is "righteous judgement?"  It is judgement based upon, and in light of the Word of God (and, by the way, all of us will ultimately be judged by God's word so, the more help we can give to each other in this area, the better).

"Do not despise prophetic utterances, but examine
everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good."
I Thessalonians 5:21

TRIVIA QUESTION:  Where in the Bible do you find an entire chapter devoted to "judging others within the church?" 

*We are never to "judge" others in the sense of condemnation, or "ultimate judgement" (see James 4:11-12).  However, we are to "judge all things" in the sense of "examination" or "critique in light of the Bible."



For further study on this issue, please click on, IS IT RIGHT?  To Judge, To Expose Error, & To Call Names?
Also for further study:

1.  Biblical examples in the church where names were literally used.

            -2 Timothy 2:14-20.

            -2 Timothy 4:10-15.

            -2 Timothy 1:15.

            -1 Corinthians, chapter 5: 1-13.

            -Acts 5:1-5.

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