Christians Judging?
Q: It is my understanding that in the Bible it says men should not lie with men (lgbt). I understand this, however it is not up to us to judge those who practice this. They on their own (right), and on their path will find Christ on their and/or face judgment when the time comes.
A: Too many today speak before knowing what Scripture rightly says.
We need less people giving false and misinformation, [steming from sin and pride & lack of biblical understanding], and more people really daily reading and really knowing Scripture before they speak.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
The latter you said is an opinion. One held by many that is not anchored in the truth God has revealed to us in Scripture. We are to call men to flee from coming judgment and towards righteousness. As believers we are to judge in righteousness, as well as exhort, admonish, correct, etc to mature the redeemed in the faith, but are also warned not to cause a believer to sin.
If you are saying we should go along with sinful lgbt lifestyles then you are causing believers to sin.
Matthew 18:6-7
but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!
"NOT UP TO US TO JUDGE" ?
Are you saying Christians should not JUDGE?
You just judged believers by saying not to judge. And are judging God and Christ 👀 who told us to go and preach judgment to the world and to rightly judge those in the church.
If Christians should not Judge, then how will a Christians preach the Gospel of Salvation to a "sinners"? Are you not judging a person when [God told us to proclaim the Gospel] you tell them that they are sinners? That they need to flee from sin to righteousness. You are making a judgment and agreeing with God's judgment on the matter. That sin is wrong and righteousness is right. A believer aligns with what God says and on what is righteousness. A believer calls people to flee to Christ for salvation before they die.
We do not condemn them as only God can but we know he will judge them and this is why God left us here after salvation... to warn proclaimingly of the coming judgment and point people to the Savior.
We should always come at it from the place of love, and true love does not embrace nor enable sin. Love cares about others and seeks their good. We also handle it differently when they claim to be a believer, but also in love.
Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
In Colossians 3:12-13, we are encouraged to "clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" when dealing with others.
Reaching them in truth and love is our goal. As it is also with believers who sin.
”When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people. [It] is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”“ 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
1 Cor. 5:4-5 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord
Even there [church discipline] the purpose is repentance, reconcilliation and restoration.(1)
Read some Scripture on judging:
“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.””
John 7:24
“But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.”
I Corinthians 2:15
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:1-5
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” I John 4:1
So, yes, Christian’s are commanded to judge.
God also commands His followers to go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone, the good news and the bad news (Mark 16:15). If we don’t “warn” someone of the consequences of their sins, then that isn’t love, that’s hate…because we are ultimately saying “you’re on your way to hell, oh well.”. And we become no better than they because God will cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matt 25:30-40)
"The duty of the church is to confront the world - not court it." - JMac
The Gospel divides. Those who love sin hate righteousness and that means they unjustly hate God and Christ and his Redeemed ones. Darkness doesnt have any part with the Light and we are to expose the darkness. Only when we expose it, reason with them and share the Gospel do they have hope. God will bring many to salvation but we must be faithful to speak truth or they cannot embrace it.
So what has happened to those who hold the view you shared is either they don't know Scripture or got manipulated by the false teachers who twist it. You need to think through this again through the lense of Scripture; the full Word.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Here is 1 CORINTHIANS 6 : 9 "Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men."
When talking about the lgbt issue many teachers and preachers or English versions either unwittingly or purposely leave out these words from that passage from the original language :
Paul used 3 words there in verse 9
MOICHOI (Adulterer)
Malakoi (Effeminate)
Arsenokoitai (homosexuals).
So (God revealed through him) was as clear as can be on the lgbt issue. This is also the reason we as Christians should be vehemently standing against cross dressing, drag queens, homosexuality, basically any transgender/lgbt+ lifestyle. Becaise it is in sin and direct rebellion against His design for mankind.
"And He [Jesus] answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?" (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:4-5, Mark 10:8, Ephesians 5:31).
We are to speak truth in love and show where people error as we once did formerly following our lusts in the sin nature. But we were freed from that in Christ. None of these things shared on this page on this topic stops us from showing grace, mercy and love in the general sense to those still in bondage to their sins. And it should never stop us from calling them to Christ through the Gospel of salvation. Without Him they, like all sinners, have no hope and are in grave danger headed towards eternal judgment. They'll remain trapped in their sin nature and chained to it and Satan until Christ frees them. But unless we proclaim the truth to them and try to reason with them [in righteousness and truth] no seeds are planted, and none come to salvation. We would be derelict and wicked if we do not do our best to reach them.
Romans 10:14
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation
Romans 10:15
And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes
Mark 1:15 Jesus said " Repent and believe the Gospel."
Mark 16:15
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation"
2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth
2 Corinthians 5:20
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
1 Timothy 1:16
Moreover, Scripture tells us, how we will live and behave *once saved* because the Spirit converted us and lives in us, [we are no longer lovers of sin]. That is why 1 Cor. 11: 11 goes on to say "And that is what some of you *were*. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
God's Word never changes, but it changes us; we can be changed by God from lovers of sin to lovers of righteousness [and to ones who align with and hold fast to what God has revealed in His Word]. The Gospel has the power to convert and radically transform all who obey it's call. We need to proclaim both, faithfully & accurately. So, let us stand on truth and speak the truth in love. And keep growing in the knowledge of Scripture, so we can rightly divide the Word... and not lead others into error or sin.
The below can help further educate on the topic biblically, and be a great help and blessing to you.
Related Resources
Related verses
2 Thess. 3:14-15 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
Gal. 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.
Footnote (1)
See Church Discipline faq
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