Who are We to Judge?

"I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?" (1 Cor. 5:9-12)

Paul had a lot to deal with in the church at Corinth. They had become puffed up and even allowed a person to stay within their midst who was indulging in sexual immorality (not even of a kind that was tolerated by pagans). The apostle commanded that these type of people be removed from the fellowship. Then he goes on into more teaching about association.

As Christians, we aren't supposed to associate with sexually immoral people. However, Paul wasn't talking about those people out in the world, but of those in the Church. Why not those in the world? Because we'd have to be totally removed from the world. As long as we're alive, there will always be immoral, greedy, idolatrous men and women that we, out of necessity, have to have dealings with.

Then Paul goes on to say that anyone who calls himself a Christian brother and is involved in sexual immorality, greed, swindling, drunkenness, etc. we're not to associate with. This leads to an interesting point. The apostle Paul asked the question ,"What have I to do with judging outsiders?" Outsiders meaning those who make no claim of having been born-again and aren't in the church. What can you expect from sinners anyways? Sinners do as sinners do. However, if a person calls himself a brother, he immediately puts himself in the realm of judgement from other believers. In fact, Paul says we are to judge inside the church!

This type of teaching is largely overlooked. Instead of judging those inside the church, fingers are often pointed at unsaved politicians, movie stars, or someone else in the limelight. Are we to just except and think that the sins of the unsaved are OK? No, but as was said earlier, what can be expected from sinners? Is abortion, sexual immorality (fornication, adultery, homosexuality), drunkenness, and all other manner of sin OK? No! God's wrath will come on all sin, but our judgement is to be reserved for those within the church, not those who are outsiders.

Many won't like this type of teaching. In the modern "church", we are told not to judge, just love. This is not what we see from the apostle Paul's example or teachings. Judge the people within the church, not the outsiders.