12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside.
-I Corinthians 5:12-13a, NIV
Theologically, I am not in the camp of “never” judge another “Christian.”
This passage out of I Corinthians plainly exposes such a position as not proper among New Testament Believers. The Apostle Paul expected the community to judge ongoing, unrepentant sin and take action to ensure it ceased among the community.
Honestly, I see this judging as an act of love.
In particular, it sends a clear message to the victims of the person refusing to forsake his or her sin. Such judgment tells them that the community will not tolerate their abuse.
Repentance must happen or that abusive person will no longer be welcome in the community as he or she has decided to live and behave outside the expectations of the community.
I believe this is also an expression of love for the abuser as well. They are being taught the sinful behavior must stop. This is ultimately a loving thing with the community acting in a way that indicates care for the sinner’s soul (see Hebrews 10:26-27).
The other aspect of the love expressed through judging adultery as wrong and not acceptable among God’s children is a matter of justice, which helps victims heal.
-With such a judgement, the victim begins to be set free from the self-blame as they have a community condemning the behavior of their abuser. This is so important!
-With such a judgment, the victim experiences solidarity and support with a community that sees the wrongness of the matter.
-With such a judgment, the victim gets to experience a Christian community that refuses to enable a cheater who would like to treat the adulterous abuse as “not a big deal.”
I am a firm believer in judgment in the right context–namely, it needs to be done among professing Believers. If someone refuses to ever judge such destructive sin, I question whether they truly understand Christlike love at all.
_______
*A version of this post ran previously.
