A publication of the:
Butler church of Christ
Our meeting location is:
201 5th Ave.
Butler, PA 16001
724-287-0628 (building) / 724-282-9417
(home/office)
Assembling Times:
Sunday Bible Class - 9:30 AM
Sunday Worship – 10:30 AM
Wednesday Bible Class – 7:00 PM
Editor / Preacher –
Brian A. Yeager
Check out the web site:
(I Corinthians 10:31 and I Peter 4:11)
Oftentimes brethren seem to set a standard upon which they measure the
faithfulness of other brethren. Some examples are observing the attendance
habits of brethren. We know that the Bible teaches we are not to
willfully abandon the assembling of the saints (Hebrews 10:25). Another
example is the works that are seen accomplished. We know that our
good works are an example others are to notice (Matthew 5:16). The
contribution habits of a brother or sister in Christ are a sign of their
dedication to the Lord. Oftentimes it is obvious when brethren observe
the “passover” when it comes to the collection taken upon the first day
of the week (I Corinthians 16:1-3). When this occurs, and brethren
observe that someone is not giving, that tells of one’s lack of faithfulness
to the Lord. Where we put our treasure is where our heart is (Matthew
6:19-21), therefore if our time, energy, and money are spent elsewhere,
others can see a sign of spiritual trouble. The word of God shows
us that we are to judge righteous judgment (John 7:24). These few
examples listed above are things that are obvious, and they tell a story
of one’s commitment to the Lord. These things the word of God has
already made judgment on. Where do we go from realization of one’s
spiritual problems?
When faithful brethren realize that there is a problem with one’s commitment to God they know it is time to help their brethren (Galatians 6:1-2). However, there are others who sit back and just cannot wait to see their brethren begin to fail. When they notice those things, they are the first to sit and publish their opinion of what is wrong with brother or sister ___________. However, they are the ones who have their own spiritual issues that need addressed (such as the fact that they are quick to point out someone else’s faults to everyone, except for the person who they really need to be addressing those issues with). The kicker comes when the brethren who sit so high and mighty on their thrones of judgment are also failing in the same areas they are pointing out in the lives of others. This is called hypocrisy.
The Measure You Use to Judge Others, Needs to Apply to You as Well
You just have to love the good ole’ finger pointers of a local church (exaggerated
statement). Now, before someone’s blood pressure rises from reading
that statement, let me be clear. Just about every time you preach
the Gospel you have made some judgment. For example, when you tell
someone they need to be baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts
2:38), you have made a judgment that they are likely lost in sin and in
the need of being saved. When you approach a brother or sister in
Christ about a fault in their lives you have judged them to a degree.
This is not what we are talking about. Righteous judgment based upon
the word of God is needful in almost every aspect of teaching, exhortation,
and rebuke.
It is important that we as Christians are observing one another. Brethren should be able to depend upon each other to help one another get to Heaven. One reason the local church assembles together is to provoke one another to good works. Notice the words of the Hebrew writer: (Hebrews 10:24-25) “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” To get someone to do something we often have to judge where they are failing. It is by the fruits of others that we realize the distinctions between the genuine and the false (Matthew 7:15-20). So, there is a degree of judgment that always needs to be made. These things are not the problem we are addressing. What we are addressing is the typical hypocrite that is busy looking at everyone else’s faults while ignoring their own.
Jesus addressed those who judge according to hypocrisy. A hypocrite says and does not. They make a judgment and fail to live according to their own standards. Notice what Jesus said on this subject: (Matthew 7:1-5) “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” The next time you sit back and condemn an act of one of your brothers or sisters in Christ, you need to be sure that you are using the same standard of measurement upon yourself.
The Importance of Self Examination
Just as a person makes appointments to see a Physician periodically for a physical check-up, we too need to be spiritually evaluated. If we are focusing our attention on ourselves and not just on everyone else, this will aid us greatly to be balanced in helping our brethren. The spiritual evaluation that a Christian is to perform is one of introspection. Paul said this by inspiration: (II Corinthians 13:5) “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” The word of God is the measuring stick for a Christian. Now, when we look into the word of God and examine ourselves, we cannot be like someone who looks into a mirror and turns from it forgetting what manner of person he or she was. We must look into the word of God, make adjustments in our spiritual lives, and then do those things that we find God desires of us to be doing (James 1:22-25).
Once we grow spiritually we will be in a better position to aid our brethren with their spiritual deficiencies. Notice the inspired words of the Apostle Paul to the brethren in the area of Galatia: (Galatians 6:1) “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Those who are spiritual, not those who are lacking, are the ones who are to help their brothers or sisters in Christ who have been overtaken in a fault. The spiritually minded brother or sister in Christ who comes to the aid of another will not be the one who judges a judgment they themselves do not live up to. Hypocrites will never accomplish the work of instructing their erring brethren back to Christ. The old “do as I say, not as I do” method is severely flawed. A Christian has to be a doer (Titus 1:16, James 1:22-25, and Matthew 5:16). Thus, spiritual evaluations and spiritual growth will help all Christians, not to be ones who set one standard for others and a lower for themselves, but they will be brethren who are spiritually minded and who have put into work those things they would present to others from the word of God.
Conclusion
A hypocrite is one who desires to appear righteous before men, but within
are full of iniquity (Matthew 23:28). This article has been 
about
hypocrites. Hypocrites will not find themselves in Heaven with the
Lord (Matthew 24:51). The wisdom that comes from God is not full
of hypocrisy, it is full of mercy, impartiality, and good fruits (James
3:17). If someone desires to be a judge of their brethren, they first
need to be a judge of themselves. If someone desires then to grow
to a point of spiritual maturity wherein they can counsel their brethren
appropriately, they will be doing a good work. But, the self-pride
of hypocrisy does no good to the individual, their brethren, or the work
needed to be accomplished in the Kingdom of our Lord.
The measure of judgment today and in the day upon which the Lord Judges
mankind, is and will be the word of God (John 12:48). If we want
to know what the Lord thinks of a situation, we just need to look into
His word to find that answer. The inspired word of God fully equips
every Christian unto every good work (II Timothy 3:16-17). The word
of God reveals unto us all that we need to know about Him, His will, and
how we should live our lives according to His standards (II Peter 1:3).
Let us all grow spiritually (as we ought to - II Peter 3:18) so that we
can help each other get to Heaven.