"ABANDON JUDGMENTALISM"

First Corinthians 4.1-14

1. This evening we're going to deal with the second step Paul outlined to the Corinthian Christians to achieve genuine unity in their Church. Remember, if you will from several weeks ago, the first step to take to achieve unity in the body of Christ is to stop worshiping the pastor. After all, apart from the grace of God given to fulfill the call of God to the ministry, preachers are essentially the same as every other Christian. 

2. What is the second step, then? The second critical step which must be taken to rid the Church of divisiveness and bring about unity is to abandon judgmentalism. What is judgmentalism? It is the single greatest reason, in my opinion, why unsaved people go to Hell instead of receiving Christ. Humanly speaking, of course. And it's also a great divider of believers within the congregation, the body of Christ.

3. You see, judgmentalism is the judging of people or things using non-Biblical standards to judge by. For example: An unsaved man will say, "I'm okay," only because he is using his own standards for judging his spiritual condition and evaluating his personal righteousness. As soon as he uses Biblical standards in an honest way, he knows he's going to split Hell wide open when he dies. Because when he uses Biblical standards to judge and evaluate himself he quickly sees that he has fallen far short of the glory of God, he quickly sees that he is a sinner, and he quickly sees that the wages of sin is death. 

4. But did you know that Christians are also often guilty of committing this sin called judgmentalism? Sure. You see, we know that believers also commit sins. Right? And judgmentalism is one of the sins Christians may continue to commit even after they have trusted Christ. But judgmentalism among God's children is wrong and it must stop. 

5. Now, let me clarify what is meant by the term judgmentalism. You are not guilty of being judgmental when you say, for instance, that homosexuality is wrong, or that anyone who has sex with someone he is not married to is wrong. This is because the Word of God declares these types of deeds, at any time, to be sins. And when you say that homosexual activity is wrong, or that a person who has sex with someone he is not married to is doing wrong, all you are doing is reflecting the position of the Bible on the issue. And there's nothing wrong with reflecting a Biblical position on an issue. Amen?

6. The same thing is true when you speak out against any kind of behavior which the Bible says is sinful. Clearly, when you do this you are not being judgmental. God has already judged such to be sin and you are just being faithful to God's Word when you echo His sentiments. 

7. The problem comes when Christians act too much like unsaved people and begin to create their own standards for right and wrong. For example: Pro-abortionists are judgmental. You see, baby murderers say that those opposed to baby murder are wrong, even though the Bible stands strongly against abortion in all its forms.

8. There is no judgmentalism on the part of the right to life people, since they are just reflecting the judgment of God on the issue. And would anyone in his right mind condemn God's judgment? No. But when you create your own standard for right behavior, such as saying that the murder of the unborn is proper and moral behavior, or such as saying that homosexual activity is an acceptable alternate lifestyle, you are being judgmental by establishing your own standards for judging moral issues. That's pure subjectivism.

9. Now let's look at judgmentalism in the Church. The specific kind of judgmentalism which divides Churches is when one Church member judges the service to Christ of another man and then compares that man's service to yet someone else's service . . . either his own or another's. 

10. I think you can readily imagine the inferiority complex or the ego problem a person has which is caused by this very kind of thing. I'm sure you know people who suffer because they judge others or themselves in this way. 

11. Folks, no one is immune to the effects of this sin. Paul himself, though he apparently did not practice this sin, did suffer the brunt of others judging him and comparing him and his ministry to the ministries of others. 

12. Because of the severe damage judging others can cause to a body's unity, Paul wants it stopped. And in First Corinthians 4.1-14 we are given two looks at the subject of judgmentalism that show how unreasonable we are when we judge other people. 

13. But first, let us stand for the reading of God's Word, First Corinthians 4.1-14: "1Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 6And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 7For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 8Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you."

1A. IN VERSES 1 AND 2, WE ARE GIVEN A LOOK AT ACCOUNTABILITY

1B. First, There Is Paul's Direction To The Readers . . . "Account"

1C. We went into this verse in great detail last week, but let me share with you the high point. 

2C. In verse 1 Paul points out in very strong terms that he is accountable to the Lord Jesus Christ and God. That though he had ministered to the Corinthians he was not accountable to them. 

3C. And you will notice that he instructs the Corinthians on how they were to account him. 

2B. Second, There Is Paul's Discussion Of The Writer 

1C. You see, it is Paul's description of himself and other spiritual leaders which forms the basis of this accountability to God and to Christ making sense.

2C. The spiritual leader is the minister of Christ and steward of God. As I explained last week, the man of God is, at the same time, the constantly scrutinized servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as the trusted household steward of God.

3C. With the duty of the spiritual leader being faithfulness to the ministry God has called him to, God trusts him to be faithful, and Christ will watch him to make sure he is faithful.

4C. What is Paul doing in these two verses? He is telling the Corinthians that he is another's servant, not theirs. And because he is not accountable to them they ought not to be judgmental of him.

2A. THEN, IN VERSES 3-14, WE ARE GIVEN A LOOK AT CAPABILITY 
First, Paul established that we ought not to judge other people, because other people are not accountable to us. Now he will establish that we ought not to judge because we are not capable of judging. 

1B. In Verses 3 And 4 We See Paul's Ability To Judge "3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord."

1C. Notice Paul's resultant behavior

1D. Paul makes a statement that every one of us here today would do very well to pay close attention to. Paul was unconcerned about what others thought of him.

2D. People, do you realize how much sin we commit by doing things to please other people when we ought to concern ourselves with pleasing God?

3D. And notice something else. He wrote, "Yea, I judge not mine own self." Not only did he not concern himself with other's judgment of his life and ministry, he wasn't always trying to evaluate himself all the time. 

2C. And what was the reason being? Insufficient data. Folks, the reason Paul was so unconcerned about other's estimation of him, or of his own estimation of himself, was a realization that no one, not even himself, possessed enough accurate information about his life and ministry to render a proper judgment of his faithfulness and performance.

3C. Now folks, if the great apostle Paul didn't have enough information to judge himself, how do you and I think we have enough information to judge ourselves? And certainly no one else can judge us. Amen? Not enough information. 

2B. In Verses 4 And 5 We See Christ's Ability To Judge

"4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God."

1C. Folks, Christ's ability of judge you and me is directly the result of His position in our lives. ". . . but He that judgeth me is the Lord." Folks, only the lord has the right to judge the servant. This suggests to me that when I try to judge myself or when I try to judge the life of another, I am usurping the position of the Lord Jesus Christ in their life or in my life. And I have no right to do that. Neither do you. Amen? 

2C. Christ's ability to judge the Christian life is also the result of His Person. Let's read verse 5 again: "5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God." Christ is omniscient, possessing all knowledge. And Christ is the omnipotent One, possessing all power.

3C. Let's leave this matter of judging one another to Him, since only He has sufficient information, sufficient power, and the proper position, to judge the Christian life. Amen?

3B. Finally, Paul Looks At The Christian's Ability To Judge We know that Paul does not have the ability to judge, either others or himself. And we know that the Lord does have the ability and the right to judge believers. But what things make it impossible for the Christian to judge others? Several things.

1C. First, the Christian's ability to judge is affected by his or her lack of humility, verse 6: "And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another." A person gets puffed when he is lacking humility.

2C. Second, the Christian's ability to judge is affected by his or her lack of discernment. Notice how Paul drives home the fact that Christians simply do not know what's going on when it comes to judging the lives and ministries of other believers. 

1D. Concerning God's sovereignty, Paul questions the readers, in verse 7: "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?"

1E. You see, when people judge other people, they take great pride in their individual superiority. 

2E. But Paul argues in essence, "Why are you bragging about your assets? You act as though you are responsible for what you are. Did you not, in fact, get what you have from God? Then why are you so pleased with yourself, as though you should take the credit?"

2D. Then, concerning the believer's service, Paul ridicules his readers, in verses 8-14.

1E. Now folks, most so-called Christians could never imagine this, but Paul does make use of dripping sarcasm here. Notice his sarcasm and his irony as I read these verses: "Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you."

2E. Do you see how he deals with the issue? He points out that their entire criteria for judging the worth and the spirituality of him and others was marked by a distinct lack of discernment. 

3C. Paul's goal in all this? To show how inept are the judgments with which Christians judge other Christians. 

CONCLUSION:

1. Folks, when you think about it this matter of judging others is silly beyond those matters God has already judged. Either you have no business judging, or you haven't enough information to properly judge, or both.

2. For you Christians in the congregation this judging of others can lead to great divisions. You see, judging other people causes feelings of superiority on one hand and inferiority on the other hand. And neither superiority nor inferiority helps the cause of Christ one bit. 

3. For the unconverted the problem is even worse. A lost person may, somehow, think that if he says he is okay, that must mean he is okay. Judging according to standards that are not valid, an unconverted man will think that his judgment is valid, and will then think that God will honor his judgment. But He won't. You see, no matter how well off the unsaved Christ-rejecter thinks he is, Christ has already judged him. "He that believeth not is condemned already," John 3.18.

4. We'd all be better off if we'd just strive to reflect God's judgment about things. If God says it's wrong then it's wrong. If God says it's okay then it's okay. If God is silent on the matter, then we should be silent on the matter.