Thanks for returning to this series on “Judge Judge Judge” and my feeble attempt to understand a believers responsibility and right to make judgments.
Another purpose of this series hopefully is to understand the believers restriction on judgement.
What can a Christian judge? How is he to judge? What is prohibited in the Christian life to judge. So many questions and concerns.
Our second greek word related to judging is…
ἀνακρίνω – anakrinō – “examine, judge, ask question, search, discern”
This word is found 16 times in 14 verses within the New Testament. A full listing of all verses may be found below for your self study. I will consider the verses that are not clear, that create questions in my mind, with the remaining verses left for the reader to ponder.
Judging the Scriptures?
Acts 17:11
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Now I am confused. Are the Bereans examining the Old Testament Scripture to see if it was true, (not likely – these folk were good Jews!) Or are they examining the OT Scriptures to judge whether the Apostles teaching lined up with the Scriptures? I take it that the word they received was the preaching / teaching of the apostles and they were fact checking it!
This judgement/examining was not so much the determination of the Scriptures value or truthfulness, so much as sticking to the Scriptures and its message, and judging the apostle teaching against it.
Oh to have believers check out the preachers and teachers floating around today. Those professional charlatans, seeking your attention, providing entertainment, tickling the ears of those without a basis to make any judgement.
Without the Word of God, there is no foundation of knowledge we so desperately need. Without this knowledge, there is no standard that is required in order to make a judgement or decision on the worth of these so called preachers.
The modern church deserves these false teachers!
Are you brave enough to stand up for Christ in the midst of this adulterated modern church?
If you belong to a church that loves to be challenged in their teaching, that will consider your concerns and not simply accuse you of being divisive, consider yourself blessed.
If you belong to a church that sidetracks your questions, shames you into silence or refuses your freedom of conscience in matters of faith, consider your ways.
Be a Berean. Study the Word and know your faith.
With the knowledge you gain, stand strong in the Lord. With the knowledge you gain, you are on your way to gaining understanding and wisdom from Him who has all wisdom and understanding.
But beware, for with every good work there is a trap! With the knowledge you gain, walk humbly in it.
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Thanks for joining me in this study. Hope to visit with you in our next post as we continue to look at the Greek term ἀνακρίνω.
Be Blessed.
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