A response to sin

Before I get into the heart of the matter here, I would like to clear the air first about a large misconception about judgment that I feel is hindering a lot of Christians.  It seems to me that Christians are labeled as being ‘judgmental’ for nothing more than believing the Bible to be accurate when it describes what constitutes a sin.  Christians are shamed by non-believing critics for saying that socially acceptable forms of sexual immorality, drunkenness, lying, and coveting (and more) are indeed sins.  Because it is God’s Word that tells us that these actions are sinful, it is his judgment we are affirming, not our own.

Nor is it judgmental for the Christian to merely recognize a sin in others.  After all, we are all sinners; we have all transgressed against God in some way.  We humans have eaten the fruit of knowledge of good and evil and have the capacity to see sin for what it is.  Judgment, reproof, correction, and the like are not the act of recognizing a sin.  Instead, they are one’s response once they have first recognized the sin.

To illustrate, I’d like to revisit the verses I used last week, beginning with Jesus’ words:

"Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”  (Matthew 7:1-2)

The word “Judge”, in the original Greek, is ‘Krino’.  Krino is a word used to primarily pronounce an opinion about right and wrong.  However, it is not a casual word; it carries within it a sense of authority of governance.  A King or a Judge would krino his subjects.  Interestingly enough, it can also be defined in certain contexts as “To rule or govern.”  In addition to giving an authoritative opinion, krino and krima (Judgment) imply a sentence.  It is a final decree of the state of something or someone, often involving consequence. 

Take the example I used last week, from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians:

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife.  And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.  For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing.  (1 Corinthians 5:1-3)

Paul uses the word krima for judgment, and this is an accurate place for it.  Paul speaks from a position of authority, having started the Corinthian church and advising them in their spirituality.  He pronounces an opinion on the individual, and then a sentence:  Let him who has done this be removed from among you.  This is judgment.

There is another response to sin that is often mistaken for judgment – the rebuke.

“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him."  (Luke 17: 3-4)

The word for ‘rebuke’ in Greek is epitimao.  Like krino, the Christian recognizes the sin in another.  Like krino, the Christian confronts the other with their sin.  But unlike krino, the Christian does not pass a moral judgment or sentence on their brother Christian.  Instead, epitimao means to chide, to tax fault with, to reprove, or censure severely.  However, epitimao also implies showing honor to the individual.  The Christian, in this case, respectfully corrects his brother in their sin.

At first glimpse, the two still do look similar, but are vastly different in intent.  A rebuke is intended to help a fellow Christian; to help them see their sin and to turn away from it.  A judgment, though, is the end result.  Paul’s judgment of the sinful Corinthian was not made with the intent of nurturing a wayward brother; it was to protect the rest of the church from a hopeless one.

Because all responses to sin may have significant consequences to a Christian, it is important to know when to judge, when to reprove – and when to just keep quiet.  Over the next few weeks, I will be exploring our options, with examples from the Bible.  

for His glory!

Mark