By Frances Swaggart

 

The scripture says “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (This means that Judgment must be rendered according to the whole Word of God, and not merely by taking a part and perverting it to one’s own satisfaction.)” (John 7:24).

 

We do not seek to judge others personally, but we certainly should judge false doctrine. The Apostle Paul was not hesitant to do such. In Ephesians 5:11 he says, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (the Scripture teaches separation, but not isolation), but rather reprove them (speak out boldly and forcibly against them). And then in Verse 13 he says, “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light (it is only Christ and the Cross which can adequately portray what sin actually is; that’s the reason much of the Church doesn’t care for the Cross!): for whatsoever does make manifest is light. (The Cross alone manifests sin and all its evil effects.)

 

And then we have the words of Timothy: “Preach the Word (refers to the whole body of revealed Truth, which means the entirety of the Word of God); be instant in season, out of season (presents the idea of the Preacher holding himself in constant readiness to proclaim the Word); reprove, (the Preacher is to deal with sin, both in the lives of his unsaved hearers and in those of the Saints to whom he Ministers, and he is to do so in no uncertain tones and terms), rebuke (a suggestion in some cases impending penalty), exhort with all longsuffering and Doctrine. (This tells us that the “reproving” and the “rebuking” must be done with gentleness. As well, the “longsuffering” refers to a gentleness that continues even when the Message is met with rejection. However, the “Doctrine” is not to change, even though it is rejected.)