Dear Rajan

Criticism and associated sins are the most common pitfalls for Christian believers. Very few of them are able to spot this sin in their lives because this sin is so tasty for their tongues. Gossip is a very close relative of criticism, and perhaps it is the sweetest of the sins. Both the gossiper as well as the listener enjoy doing their parts in this affair; coupled with it is the feeling of self-righteousness which both of them feel after they have thoroughly examined the speck in their brother’s eye. Further, a gossiper can always hide his real motive by suggesting that he is merely ‘sharing’ this information with others to evoke their concern and prayer for the sinning brother.

The phoniness of this pretext can easily be discovered if one questions the gossiper about what he himself has done for the alleged sinner! Has he ever prayed with concern for this brother whom he is criticising at his back; has he ever tried to talk first with that brother before he started talking with others; and most important, does he have the moral courage to speak these things face to face with the person whom he is criticising dastardly? The self-righteous person who always finds everything wrong with everyone else is easily exposed when he is pressed to give a straightforward answer to what exactly he has done to uplift these people whom he is trying to destroy.

All forms of criticisms meant to destroy a brother or sister in Christ’s divine family is sinful. The Lord will not hesitate to chastise the erring child. Corrective discipline is an integral part of the way in which God deals with His children. However, there is one form of judgment which is allowed by the Word of God. This type of judging is entirely different from the judgment and criticism that we have been studying so far. This type of activity is meant to build up, not to tear down, the members of the family of God. Since the words for criticism and various forms of judgment are used interchangably in our translations of the Bible, people do not realise that all judgment can roughly be put into two distinct categories. There are certain Greek and Hebrew words used in the Bible to denote a “Forensic” judgment, while there are many other words to denote all that type of criticism which tries to destroy others.

A forensic judgment is that activity which a believer does under the authority or command received from the Lord. The Lord gives authority to certain people to judge in certain limited realms so that the whole body of Christ may grow. Every system in this world needs certain checks and balances to keep them from going away from its original purpose. For example, every person who accepts the Lord Jesus as his personal Saviour is allowed to continue for quite some time in his body so that he might grow spiritually and glorify the Lord. Since there are numerous enticements trying to divert us from this path, every believer is given the forensic right to examine and judge his own life and motives. With every right there will be some responsibility, and this is why many verses in the Bible exhort the believers to examine themselves. So much so that if a believer participates unworthily in the Lord’s table, he invites very tough punishment upon himself – because he did not judge himself!

A believer is allowed to judge another person to determine whether he should have fellowship with him, but no more. Should he decide that he should not have fellowship, he is free not to have it, but he does not have the right to criticise that brother. If he is really concerned about that brother, he has to take a different course: talk to that person directly, personally, and in a concerned manner. If this does not bring the expected result, then the Word of God gives many other alternatives, but none of them includes the right to criticise that brother.

Pastors have certain rights over the congregation, and the elders and deacons also have certain rights of judgment over the congregation. The husband has certain rights over his wife, and the parents have a lot of right over their dependent children. The teacher has a good measure of authority over his students. It is the parents who instruct the children, and not vice versa; it is the teacher who controls and guides the students, and not the other way round. Wherever the roles of forensic judgment reverses, chaos results sooner or later.

The Lord has given forensic authority to Kings, Rulers, Judges, Police, and other authorities of a country. It is the Lord Himself who has given certain authorities to Pastors, Elders, Teachers, Coaches, Parents, Husbands, and other types of people. Whenever they use their right of forensic judgment, they are fulfilling their obligation to God and people had better listen to them. Running down their authority is running down God’s authority. In turn, if any of them mis-uses the divine authority delegated to them, the Lord shall not tolerate it. He has installed adequate checks and balances for them also, and He shall activate them whenever they become necessary.

So, always respect those people who have a forensic right to judge you. Do not mock them even if they have lost their dignity or integrity. After all it is the Lord who has installed them in that place! and only the Lord has the right to judge them. All what you should do is to obey them and pray for them that the Lord might take action against them.

Be of good cheer. You will learn a lot of things in the coming days. Even angels do not speak against the authorities set and established by God.

Loving DAD & MOM,

TOM & ANN.