Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 3/3/2011

Question
QUESTION: Am I judging if I believe in what I am standing up for?  Our church is based on KJV Bible and I believe that no one should hold a leadership in the church who is living in open sin which is living with a man that she's not married to and playing an instrument in the church.  We are a fundamental baptist church and some of the church members seem to disagree with me and say that I am judging.  Am I judging or not?

ANSWER: Hi Becky,
    
    God says we are to judge all things and that means sin.   The judging that we are to do is to determine biblically what is godly and ungodly behavior.    Where is your pastor?   To allow a person who is openly living in sin, as this woman is doing, to lead in a worship service is to condone her sin.  The pastor and church by ignoring it is to actually approve of it.   Playing the piano in a worship service by a person who is defiantly and openly living in sin is egregious behavior and the same applies to the church that allows this to happen.
      One of the best known and most important and misapplied Scriptures is "Judge not" (Matthew 7:1). Let us examine the entire passage:
    "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considereth not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? THOU HYPOCRITE, first cast the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." (Matthew 7:1-5)
    Notice that it is addressed to a hypocrite--not to those who sincerely want to discern whether a teacher or teaching is true or false to God's Word. And instead of being a prohibition against honest judgment, it is a solemn warning against hypocritical judgment. In fact, the last statement of this Scripture commands sincere judgment--"Then thou shalt see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."
    The Lord Jesus Christ commanded, "Judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). He told a man, "Thou hast rightly judged" (Luke 7:43). To others, our Lord asked, "Why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?" (Luke 12:57).
    The Apostle Paul wrote, "I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say" (1 Corinthians 10:15). Again, Paul declared, "He that is spiritual judgeth all things" (1 Corinthians 2:15). It is our positive duty to judge.
   The Apostle John wrote, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test, judge) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). Again he wrote, "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh... If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, RECEIVE HIM NOT into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (2 John 7, 10-11). This Scripture commands us to judge between those who do and those who do not bring the true doctrine of Christ.
    Many who piously quote, "Judge not," out of its connection, in order to defend that which is false to God's Word, do not see their own inconsistency in thus judging those who would obey God's Word about judging that which is untrue to the Bible. It is tragic that so much that is anti- Scriptural has found undeserved shelter behind a misuse of the Scripture just quoted.
     A couple living together without marriage is called fornication which is lewdness of unmarried persons, male or female; also, the criminal living of a married man with an unmarried woman; adultery; incest; a forsaking of the true God and worshiping of idols (Webster).   Fornication could also be defined as "the gratification of sexual appetites without respect to marriage or the necessity of God's approval" (Bunnell).    The Bible uses this term as a general description for immorality (Matt. 5:32; 15:19; 19:9; Acts. 15:20,29; 21:15; Rom. 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:18; 7:2; 2 Cor. 12:21; Gal. 5:19; Ep. 5:3; Cor. 3:5; 1 Thess. 4:3; Rev. 9:21). Like adultery, fornication is also used in a spiritual sense to describe turning from God to serve false gods (Eze. 16:29-34; Rev. 2:21; 14:8; 17:2,4; 18:3; 19:2). The Greek word translated fornication is porneia, from which the English word "pornographic" is derived.

  God views fornication as a serious sin.  “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind” (1 Corinthians 6:9)

     You are not wrong. I would suggest you go to your pastor privately and respectfully express your biblical objection to allowing this to continue.     Honestly, God commands us to reprove and discipline church members who get into public sin because they need to be shown their sin,  with the intent that the person would see their error and repent.    They certainly do not need the church that is suppose to stand for God’s truth to condone their sin.   If with love and respect the sinning person was confronted  would lead to their relationship (fellowship) and testimony with the Lord being restored.   If they refuse to repent then they should be disfellowshipped by the church.   The goal is restoration, but if that is not possible, the church’s testimony for standing for God’s truth should be upheld and the person dismissed. Jesus in Matthew 18:15-18 addressed this in detail.
If you have further questions or comments please write.

Cooper P Abrams III
Romans 12:1-2
http://bible-truth.org
"You cannot serve God without serving others."
      "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity"  (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 )

For a clear explanation of God's plan of salvation please go to: http://bible-truth.org/gospel.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Our pastor at the time was in the process of going to the individual and talk with her about her sin but some of the deacons in the church was opposed to it due to the fact that she would leave the church and they did not want that.  I personally think that the pastor was doing the right thing because one day he's the one thats going to stand before God and be accountable for his sheep.  Also, to me it was a hinderance for me in serving the Lord in the church due to that fact and the person is still there playing the instrument.  Our pastor has resigned since then.  Thank you for your answer.

Answer
Becky,
  It is such a tragedy that pastors are often hindered by deacons who do not know or believe God's word.   A church is belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ who died for it as Ephesians 5:25 states.  It is not up to deacon or anyone else to ignore or refuse to obey God's word. They actions compromises God's word and hurts themselves, the church and especially that woman who plays the piano.  
   I can understand why the pastor left. You cannot lead a church that is being controlled by deacons who will not follow God's word.   The first church I pastored I had the same problem with deacons. The New Testament is clear that deacons are servants of the Lord to the local church.  They are not officials in the church and have not authority.  The leadership is given by the Lord to the pastor.   I have an article at http://bible-truth.org/deacon.html which explains what a deacon (meaning an elected servant) is according to the Lord.  
   I can honestly tell you that a church that will not follow God's word is a church that exists in name only,  as God will not bless or have anything to do with such an assembly.
   I commend you on your faithfulness to the Lord and spiritual discernment.  God bless you as you serve our Savior.
Cooper Abrams