on passing judgment

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

Romans 14:10

Paul knew that Christians can fight over minor disagreements and lose sight of the bigger picture. Those fights disfigure the Bride of Christ. When hate and judgment are the culture of a local church there is no way that a gospel of grace is drawing unbelievers to the Savior. Christian fights are an oxymoron and a mark that the Devil has won the day. That is why Paul preaches about Christian liberty and the appeal of strong and weak consciences within the assembly here in this chapter.

I cannot despise my brother in Christ… ever. I must seek to understand his conscience. But what about a church member in open sin? It is love that reaches out to admonish such a person. You do not hate the person but you do recognize the damage of sin and urge them to repent in the light of the judgment of God. It isn’t hateful to call a friend to repentance. Why? For the same reason Paul appeals to unity here in Romans 14: We will all one day stand in judgment before God.

Love lives with differences of conscience, Spirit-informed opinion, and preference. Love also confronts when a clear line of sin has been crossed. Love restores when past unfair judgment has hurt the church. Love restores when repentance moves a Christian to the gospel. Love respects that Jesus is our Judge… not ourselves.