Quote:
Originally Posted by UntoHim
ZNP,
So we can judge Witness Lee as a false apostle, but we've crossed the line when we question if he is a true servant of God? I see a disconnect here. Please explain the difference between the two and how it applies to our discussions.
I don't believe that your "purge out the old leaven" example is relevant to our discussions regarding Witness Lee, who claimed to be the sole person on earth speaking as God's oracle. The example you give from 1st Corinthians is regarding "a brother" in one particular local church. Again there is a disconnect. Should people look at (and yes judge) these two in the same manner?
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I did not raise the example of the brother in Corinth, that was raised by OBW who pointed out that the topic of judging is very broad and cannot be covered with the verse reference I gave from James 4:11-12. Ohio also pointed out that we are called to judge certain things so it is very difficult to distinguish. I have agreed with this point that this is a matter of the word of righteousness, which according to Hebrews, is not a simple matter.
The Bible charges us to judge the prophets. We should examine the prophecies and judge those that are false. Judging a statement or action is a matter of righteousness. However, we are not called to judge the person. The verse in James is very clear on this -- 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
4:12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Paul also expresses the same sentiment when he says "who are you to judge another man's servant, to his own master he stands or falls".
Jesus also covers this when he says "Judge not lest you be judged for with what judgment you judge you shall be judged". This verse is probably handled more carelessly than any other verse in the Bible. First, this is not a prohibition against judging sin because we will be judged if we sin regardless of whether or not we judge sin. Also, not judging sin can also be a sin as some have pointed out concerning LSM and WL. Likewise this does not refer to choosing something, for example where to meet, since that would violate man's free will. What we are prohibited from doing is judging someone else. If I judge that WL was "not a true servant" then will I also be judged in the same way? If I argue that I have the right to say this because America is a free country, then won't I be judged for condemning WL for suing Christians since that also was his right as an American?
So there are two issues here: which principle is correct "Americans have the right to sue" or "Christians should not sue other Christians but rather choose to suffer loss"? To discuss this is a matter of righteousness. But to then take this to the next step and say because WL violated this or that principle therefore he was not a "true servant of God". That, to my understanding, is what Jesus prohibited, that is what James prohibited and that is what Paul prohibited. I have looked and so far I do not see any example in the NT where that line was crossed. That said, there are areas where they seemed to have walked right up to that line.