A common mantra among Christians today when they are confronted about something they are doing wrong, is, “Don’t judge me!”—often quoting Jesus’ words, “Judge not…” (Matthew 7:1). This phrase is frequently used to shut down any conversation about personal sin, accompanied by the claim, “It’s between me and God.” But is it solely a private matter? Does the body of Christ have a role in holding its members accountable?
Scripture answers with a clear “yes.” The Apostle Paul provides a sobering case study in 1 Corinthians 5. A man in the church was living in a sexually immoral relationship with his father’s wife—a sin even the surrounding culture condemned. Instead of confronting it, the church was pridefully tolerant. Paul rebuked them sharply, demanding they act. He instructed the church to “hand this man over to Satan” by removing him from their fellowship, so that “his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 5:5). This was not a final rejection, but a drastic act of redemptive discipline. We later learn in 2 Corinthians 2:5-8 that this discipline worked; the man repented and was welcomed back.
Paul clarifies the church’s responsibility: “Are you not to judge those inside?” (1 Corinthians 5:12). This biblical judgment is not self-righteous condemnation, but a process of loving accountability:
1. Acknowledging Sin: Discerning and agreeing that an action contradicts God’s Word.
2. Loving Confrontation: Pointing out the sin to the person involved, motivated by love and restoration (Galatians 6:1).
3. Graduated Action: If the person remains unrepentant, the church may, as a last resort, withdraw close fellowship. This is to protect the community (“a little yeast leavens the whole batch” – 1 Cor. 5:6) and awaken the individual to their need to repent.
Through it all, we never cease loving or praying for the person. The goal is always restoration, not punishment.
Why is this necessary? Because the church is “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). We are called to uphold and display God’s standards, not hide them. Does this make us sin watch dogs? Absolutely not. Jesus’ command in Matthew 7:1 was a warning against hypocritical, merciless judgment. He condemned the Pharisees for focusing on the specks in others’ eyes while ignoring the planks in their own (Matthew 7:3-5). We are called to first examine ourselves, then to help our brother—not as fault-finding watchdogs, but as family.
Correction is a gift God provides through His Word. As Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The process is clear:
+ Rebuke identifies the sin.
+ Correction shows the path to repentance and,
+ Training instructs unto godly character
Judgment, in the biblical sense, is not self righteous accusation and punishment. It is the humble and loving work of applying God’s word to our lives together, so that we all may be restored to fellowship as we mature into the likeness of Christ.
By Rev. Emeka Iduma.