Should Christians Judge False Teachers?

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Judging – Should Christians Judge False Teachers?
What does the Bible say about Judging False Teachers?
Are Christians to Judge other Christians?
Are we to Name the Names of False Teachers & False Prophets?
BY MARTHA MAC © / SO4J.com ® / SO4J-TV

JUDGING OTHERS – SHOULD CHRISTIANS JUDGE FALSE TEACHERS? What does the Bible say about Judging others, and False Teachers? Are Christians to Judge other Christians? Are we to Name the Names of FALSE TEACHERS & FALSE PROPHETS? We are NOT to Judge a person’s MOTIVES (i.e. Matthew 7:1), but we ARE to Judge a Fellow Christian’s: FRUIT / ACTIONS (Matthew 7:15-20,John 7:24,1 Cor 5:12–13) to make sure they’re NOT Teaching & Living CONTRARY to God’s Word, and Essential Christian Doctrine is Correct.

Acts 17:11 (NASB) “Now these [Jews] were MORE NOBLE-MINDED than those in Thessalonica; for they RECEIVED the WORD with GREAT EAGERNESS, EXAMINING the SCRIPTURES DAILY to see whether these things [Paul & Silas’ statements] were so.”

QUICK LINK: The Apostle Paul JUDGED and NAMED the NAMES of 8 DECEIVERS in 2nd TIMOTHY

We also encourage you to further read a short article called: BEWARE OF FALSE TEACHERS.

Romans 16:17 (KJV) “MARK THEM which cause DIVISIONS & OFFENCES CONTRARY TO THE DOCTRINE which you have learned; and AVOID them.”

2 Timothy 3:13 (NASB) “But EVIL MEN and IMPOSTERS will proceed from BAD to WORSE, DECEIVING and BEING DECEIVED.”
DISCERNMENT

Charles Spurgeon Quotes - SO4J-TV & Video - SO4J.comQuote:

“DISCERNMENT is NOT knowing the difference between RIGHT and WRONG. It is knowing the difference between RIGHT and ALMOST RIGHT.”— Charles Spurgeon, Reformed Baptist Preacher, Britain (1834 – 1892)

Do you have BIBLICAL DISCERNMENT & COMPARE what you’re being TAUGHT with GOD’s WORD? There’s just enough TRUTH in what False Teachers say to come across as being Credible & Biblical. That’s why Jesus warns, “Beware of the False Prophets”! (Matt 7:15-20)

– Matthew 7:15-16 (NASB) Jesus warns, “BEWARE of FALSE PROPHETS, who come to you in SHEEP’S CLOTHING, but INWARDLY are RAVENOUS WOLVES. You will KNOW THEM by their FRUITS..”

– Matthew 24:11 (NASB) Jesus warns, “MANY FALSE PROPHETS will RISE UP & DECEIVE MANY.” MORE: FALSE TEACHERS SCRIPTURES

So many churches these days Preach a: Worldly Man-centered pragmatic Shallow “gospel” that is focused merely on this life, and is CONTRARY to God’s Word VS the TRUE GOSPEL of Jesus Christ which is about the Good News of “REPENTANCE & FAITH in JESUS.” (i.e. Mark 1:15).

So many professing Christians lack Biblical Discernment as well. Professing Christians should be diligently SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES DAILY (Acts 17:11), and BE DISCERNING and COMPARE what you are HEARING— from these False Teachers (and anyone, including us) along with their False Prophecies (that are Mixed with Truth in their Sermons), and Compare it w/God’s Word.

Remember too, it’s not always what False Teachers say, it’s what they DON’T say. MANY seem to ONLY want to talk about “God’s Love” (along w/their: Money-talk,and /or Self-Esteem, or Pragmatic people-pleasing talk, and more)–

… they are at all preaching like: Jesus, Paul, Peter, etc. did when they would warn people and talk about: Sin, Hell, the Coming Judgment, etc (John 16:8). Love is NOT merely giving people what they want, Love Warns too of Danger, which is also what this video aims to do.

WHEN IT COMES TO JUDGING: Believer’s in Jesus Christ are NOT to Judge a person’s MOTIVES (Matt 7:1), but we ARE to Judge a Fellow Believer’s & Teachers: FRUIT / ACTIONS (Matt 7:15-20, John 7:24, 1 Cor 5:12–13, 1 John 4:1); to make sure they’re NOT Teaching CONTRARY to GOD’S WORD, and that the ESSENTIAL CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE is CORRECT, for the Protection of Gods People, His Sheep (John 10).

Matthew 7:15-20 (NKJV) Jesus warns, “BEWARE of the FALSE PROPHETS, who COME TO YOU in SHEEP’S CLOTHING but INWARDLY are RAVENOUS WOLVES. You will KNOW THEM (identify them) by their FRUITS. Do men gather GRAPES from THORNBUSHES or FIGS from THISTLES? Even so, EVERY GOOD TREE bears GOOD FRUIT, but a BAD TREE bears BAD FRUIT. A GOOD TREE CANNOT bear BAD FRUIT, NOR can a BAD TREE bear GOOD FRUIT. EVERY TREE that does NOT bear GOOD FRUIT is CUT DOWN and THROWN into the FIRE. Therefore by THEIR FRUITS you will KNOW THEM.”

John 7:24 (NKJV) “Do Not JUDGE according to Appearance, but JUDGE with RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT.”

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 (ESV) “For what have I to do with JUDGING OUTSIDERS (unbelievers)? Is it not those INSIDE the CHURCH (believers) whom you are to JUDGE? GOD JUDGES those OUTSIDE. “Purge the evil person from among you.” 1 Cor 6:1-20 (ESV) “When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? Or do you not know that the SAINTS will JUDGE the WORLD? And if the WORLD is to be JUDGED by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to JUDGE ANGELS? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!”

1 John 4:1 (NKJV) “Beloved, do NOT Believe EVERY spirit (those CLAIMING to SPEAK BY THE SPIRIT), but TEST the SPIRITS, whether they are of God; because MANY FALSE PROPHETS have gone out into the World.”

1 Corinthians 14:29 (NKJV) “Let Two or Three PROPHETS SPEAK, and let the OTHERS JUDGE.”

1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NASB) “But EXAMINE (TEST) EVERYTHING CAREFULLY; HOLD FAST (hold on) to that which is GOOD.”

J.

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Be very careful not to confuse the charismatic gift of prophecy, a wholesome gift from God, with preaching – which is another gift from God – or with “prophecy TEACHING” – which is 𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Imagine a perspective on Bible reading which pounds on the inevitability of the global triumph of evil, and our hapless incompetence in this “church” age. And does this so convincingly that the consistent dispensationalist denies the central, earliest, creed of the church: Ιησους Κυριος.

C I Scofield served his anti-Christian paymasters well. 100+ years later, his devotees, proselytes, and acolytes can no longer utter the classic statement of faith (“Jesus is Lord”) in good faith.

  • When a well-schooled dispensational saint is backed into a corner and finds himself saying this, the Mormon practice of “mental reservation” clicks in. The aware dispie will cross his fingers behind his back and mutter under his breath “Well, not really. Not here. Not yet.”

  • The unaware/naive dispie has already in his mind redefined the word “Lord” to mean “Guru.” Personal Spiritual Adviser, on a par with Madame Rose the palm reader. At least that’s the role Jesus is relegated to, in the years and decades following the moment of conversion.

Paul told the saints to “despise not prophecies.” 𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗛, 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗰𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆.

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???

> “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 16-23

I think something was a bit added here; however, not sure what it has to do with judging false teachers. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus provides the primary diagnostic tool for identifying false prophets. The focus is on the character and outcomes of the teacher’s life rather than just their rhetoric.

> “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:15–16

> “Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:20

The Apostles expanded on this by emphasizing adherence to established truth and the behavior of the teacher.

> “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1

Specifically looking for the confession of Jesus Christ’s incarnation. Romans 16:17 instructs believers to watch out for those who "cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned."We are shown in the book of 2 Peter and the letter of Jude that false teachers are usually motivated by greed, arrogance, and a desire for “sensual pleasures.” Scripture suggests that false teachers face a strict standard of accountability because of the influence they wield over others.

Peter

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The spiritual gift of prophecy is listed among the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:10 and Romans 12:6. The Greek word translated “prophesying” or “prophecy” in both passages properly means to “speak forth” or declare the divine will, to interpret the purposes of God, or to make known in any way the truth of God which is designed to influence people. Many people misunderstand the gift of prophecy to be the ability to predict the future. While knowing something about the future may sometimes have been an aspect of the gift of prophecy, it was primarily a gift of proclamation (“forth-telling”), not prediction (“fore-telling”).

A pastor/preacher who declares the Bible can be considered a “prophesier” in that he is speaking forth the counsel of God. With the completion of the New Testament canon, prophesying changed from declaring new revelation to declaring the completed revelation God has already given. Jude 3 speaks of “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (emphasis added). In other words, the faith to which we hold has been settled forever, and it does not need the addition or refinement that comes from extra-biblical revelations.

Also, note the transition from prophet to teacher in 2 Peter 2:1: “There were false prophets among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you” (emphasis added). Peter indicates that the Old Testament age had prophets, whereas the church will have teachers. The spiritual gift of prophecy, in the sense of receiving new revelations from God to be proclaimed to others, ceased with the completion of the Bible. During the time that prophecy was a revelatory gift, it was to be used for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of men (1 Corinthians 14:3). The modern gift of prophecy, which is really more akin to teaching, still declares the truth of God. What has changed is that the truth of God today has already been fully revealed in His Word, while, in the early church, it had not yet been fully revealed.

Christians are to be very wary of those who claim to have a “new” message from God. It is one thing to say, “I had an interesting dream last night.” However, it is quite another matter to say, “God gave me a dream last night, and you must obey it.”

No utterance of man should be considered equal to or above the written Word. We must hold to the Word that God has already given and commit ourselves to sola scriptura-Scripture alone.

J.

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Apparently, you’ve never encountered the charismatic gift of prophecy when it is properly exercised. Folks I know who move in this gift describe it as receiving, and sharing, a spontaneous word picture. It’s an artistic and poetic way to apply God’s eternal / fixed word to an immediate situation. Most sermons are forgotten within days. An apt word picture can linger in one’s soul, and shape one’s perspective, for decades. For example:

[

The Carpenter loves His tools, cares for the, oils them, sharpens them, and keeps them where they belong, ready for instant use. Satan breaks his tools. Which is one more reason why we’re on the winning team.

]

Can you see anything in that metaphor that violates Scripture? But that mental picture of Jesus in His carpenter shop, carefully maintaining His cherished implements, provides an upbeat and encouraging perspective on life.

Prophecy teaching, on the other hand has nothing to do with edification, exhortation, or comfort. Prophecy teaching feeds the human lust for bad news. As journalists say, “If it bleeds, it leads.” A future of assured futility requires nothing of us in the present. A God Who is at work, however, invites us every day to get with His program, in the assurance that our fruit will remain.

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Hal Lindsey was a serial polygamist, whose intimate partners included four (4) wives. He also wrecked millions of vocations.

Haggard Haggee, who keeps mooning us with his fluorescent buttocks, is on wife #2, last time I counted.

Their granddaddy in this bad faith deserted his wife and two daughters, after finding a newer younger spouse. But only after first defrauding his wife and her family of $1,500. current value – somewhere north of $75,000)

Bad character. Bad fruit. Bad prophet. Bad prophet.

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What you’re describing, a vivid illustration that helps apply Scripture, is not the biblical gift of prophecy, it is a form of exhortation or teaching that uses imagery. Scripture already has a category for that, and it does not require calling it prophecy.

In the New Testament, prophecy is not defined as creative or poetic application, but as speaking a word from God that carries divine origin and therefore must be tested, not merely appreciated.

1 Thessalonians 5:20–21[1]

The command to “test” shows that prophecy claims more than illustration, it claims to be sourced from God in a way that requires discernment of truth versus error.

That creates an immediate problem for the definition you’re using. If what is being shared is simply a helpful mental picture, then it does not need testing as prophecy, it only needs evaluation as teaching. But if it is called prophecy, it is implicitly claiming divine sourcing.

Further, Scripture places prophecy under the category of revelation, not imagination.

1 Corinthians 14:29–30[2]

The term “revelation” establishes that prophecy, in its biblical sense, involves disclosure from God, not merely an artistic restatement of known truth.

So the issue is not whether your illustration is helpful, it may be, the issue is whether it is being labeled in a way that Scripture reserves for something more specific.

Now, regarding your example of the carpenter and His tools, no, there is nothing inherently unbiblical in the metaphor itself, it reflects themes like God’s care for His people. But Scripture never authorizes us to elevate such impressions to the category of prophecy. At most, it is an illustration, similar to what any preacher might use.

The real concern is subtle but important, once subjective impressions are called “prophecy,” they begin to function with a kind of perceived divine immediacy that Scripture itself restricts.

2 Peter 1:19[3]

Peter directs believers not toward fresh impressions, but toward the already confirmed prophetic word, that is, Scripture, as the stable and sufficient authority.

Finally, your contrast between “prophecy” and “prophecy teaching” is a false dichotomy.

Biblical prophecy is explicitly for edification, exhortation, and encouragement.

1 Corinthians 14:3[4]

So rightly understood, biblical prophecy does not feed pessimism or “bad news,” it strengthens the church. But that strengthening is tied to truth revealed by God, not to spontaneous imagery that feels meaningful.

J.

  1. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. ESV ↩︎

  2. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. ESV ↩︎

  3. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention… ESV ↩︎

  4. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. ESV ↩︎

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Video: The Lord’s Word to the Laodicea Church – John MacArthur

Today’s church is full of deception; it will perish. However, there are well-known Bible teachers who think that more than fifty percent of Americans are born-again.

It is a church where people are entertained and made to feel good, instead of falling upon their knees in godly sorrow for sin. It is a church age for laughing rather than for crying. It is a church age of saying a sinner’s prayer and believing a person is saved, even though afterward there is absolutely no evidence of repentance, the fruits of the Spirit, doing the will of God, or the fruits of the works of God.

In some cases, the preachers know these things, but will not tell their congregations the truth. Some are afraid that people might leave their church and go elsewhere. They love the praise of men more than the praise of God. Having lots of unsaved or lukewarm people means more to them than having a few hot, spiritual people.

It is a church that finds time to do all manner of things, but does not find time to humbly dwell in and study God’s Word as if their life depended on it.

It is the church age when thousands of Christian preachers may preside daily over funerals declaring that the deceased person is now in heaven—when, in reality, he is screaming, tormented in the flames of hell. When have you ever heard a preacher say at a funeral that the deceased person went to hell? The Bible clearly shows that only a few are truly saved by the grace of God; however, if one would listen to the preachers at funerals, it would seem that everyone goes to heaven.

The preaching, in many of today’s churches, consists of foolishness, jokes, storytelling, and teaching what pleases people, rather than God’s pure Word. They do not usually preach that THE THOUGHT OF FOOLISHNESS IS SIN – Prov 24:9.

Some of America’s best comedians are behind the pulpits. Should a preacher, who gets the congregation laughing with jokes, then expect people to fall on their faces before God with conviction for sin and with tears of repentance? Is this the way Jesus preached? Did Jesus try to comfort those that came to hear Him with jokes, foolishness, or other antics to cause them to laugh?

The preaching, in many of today’s churches, consists of reading a few Bible verses; then the preacher talks about himself, his family, and other incidents that relate to the verses. The people learn very little about Jesus. They learn very little of the WORD OF GOD and of comparing the Word with the Word. On the other hand, they learn a great deal about the preacher, his children, his wife, his friends, things he has done, and so on. What a blind church age, when we teach what other people and other books say, but we ignore what God says in His Word! The milk of the Word is diluted with lots of water. They preach watered-down milk. A baby that receives only one part of milk, mixed with ten parts of water, will eventually die.

The born-again Christian needs and desires the PURE SPIRITUAL MILK-1 Pet 2:2 NIV, that is not watered-down with other things. It is not man, but the Holy Spirit that opens a person’s heart to understand. So few seem to realize this. It is a church age where God’s Word is proclaiming, PREACH THE WORD-2 Tim 4:2. Jesus (the Word) is outside the church knocking, yet who has ears to hear?

What a blind church age it is! Jesus is about to return; many biblical signs testify to this fact. Nevertheless, many churches will not teach Bible prophecy. Even though much of the Bible pertains to prophecy, it is often ignored. Many churches teach on love, but exhibit no love toward other born-again people outside of their own local church. Many churches think they can see how blind other churches are, but fail to see how blind they themselves are.

Many Bible schools and churches teach this way; afterward, they wipe their mouth and say, “I have done no wrong.” In their blindness, they fulfill the Laodicean prophecies.

It is very common, in America, to find church members that say they follow Christ, but are involved in every sort of sin imaginable. Many of these same people hold positions of authority. They may oversee the church’s business affairs, including the hiring and dismissing of pastors, yet they, themselves, are spiritually dead and ignorant of God’s Word. The church has been infected with leaven (false doctrine), which has grown like a cancer, reaching to the very core. The entire church is infected and sick, but does not know it…

J.

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should-christians-judge-false-teachers

Who else could or should?

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Already answered. Right?

J.

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I’m not aware I was defending, or even discussing any of these people. I believe there are many false teachers, including some on TV right now. Your point?
Peter

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Are you asking if Christians should judge “FALSE” or “FAKE” Christians, or are you asking if Christians should judge Christians, or are you asking if you can put yourself in the authority of someone els life and tell him/her what you think they’re doing wrong?

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Pretty sure it says “False Teachers” not Christians
:grin:
Luke 12 2; Be on your guard against the yeast of the pharisees, which is hypocrisy . there is nothing disclosed or hidden that will not be made known

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Hey @CreatedbyGod

If you are asking me? Yes. We should call out and warn others of False Teachers. By definition, they are NOT Christians. Well, they may be Christians, but they are NOT children of God.

Again, I’m talking about false teachers. Think Benny Hinn. Joel Olsteen, ETC. I’m not saying that I, Peter, should be in charge of your CreatedbyGod’s life choices. Even if I were your Pastor, I could point, direct, counsel, guide, teach, preach, and whatever else, but you ultimately need to make your own choices.
Peter

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JUDGING is a strong word. We shouldn’t judge ‘em, what I do is I Introduce ‘em to the word of Christ, and get to the heart for the matter.

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And thoroughly BIBLICAL.

J.

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The bible instructs us to “JUDGE WISELY”. In this sense, it presumes you have authority to Judge. In other words if you are the king of your own castle, then you have that authority as king of “YOUR” castle, such as the HEAD of your own house. If you are outside that authority and attempting to become Judge over a Kingdom belonging to someone else, then the bible suggests a path to follow, go to your brother directly and settle the matter. If the house is spiritual, and can affect the faith of others, you can take it public, but not before confronting the brother, in public, directly.

When Paul approached Peter, the Pillar of the Apostles, due to Peter’s hypocrisy in separating himself from Gentile believers to appease a Jewish delegation from Jerusalem, He didn’t go shouting through media, he went direct.

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Doesn’t it also say before you look to the splinter in your brothers eye, remove the plank from your own?
Also it doesn’t say to judge wisely in reference to judging people but to judge wisely our decisions in how we approach and deal with the situation if I am not mistaken.
@Johann am I wrong in this? I defer to your knowledge.
End of the day though the discussion is on false teachers those who profane the Word of God and twist it not brothers and sisters in Christ

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@BetterDays This is correct. I’m 100% certain @Johann would agree as well. RIGHT, @Johann ?

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SHOULD CHRISTIANS JUDGE ONE ANOTHER?

A. In 1 Corinthians 5:12 Paul and the church must deal with members (v. 12 expects a “yes” answer), but believers must allow God to deal with non-members. Believers must not judge one another (cf. Matt. 7:1-5,15-20; Rom. 14:1-15:13), but…

  1. we must examine each other’s fruits for leadership positions (cf. 1 Cor. 6:1-3; Matthew 7)

2. we must exercise church discipline when the reputation of the church is at risk

This is often a fine line! By implication Paul is asserting that the sinning man of 1 Corinthians 5 must be placed in the realm of God’s judgment (i.e., outside the church).

One wonders how this context relates to modern societies where believers and non-believers have an opportunity by voting to regulate social norms. Should believers vigorously participate in the political process? This context is limited to judgment relating to church discipline and not western, modern democracy. Believers are citizens of two realms with obligations and privileges in both! God’s Spirit, God’s will, and God’s Book help us as believers find our way in this fallen world, but unbelievers are exploited and manipulated by sin, self, and Satan.

They need our witness and compassion, not our judgmental self-righteousness. They are not capable of understanding our motives, purposes, and actions.

The problem of when and how Christians should “judge” each other caused several Greek manuscripts to alter this text.

  1. The very early papyrus manuscript P46 (about a.d. 200) as well as the Bahairic Coptic translation (3rd century) and Peshitta Syriac translation (5th century) just omit the negative and translate the sentence as an imperative, “Judge ye those who are inside [the church]” (cf. Bruce M. Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, p. 551).

  2. The Sahidic Coptic translation (3rd century) puts the negative with the preceding sentence, “For what have I to do with judging those who are outside and not those who are inside? Judge those who are inside” (Metzger, p. 51).

  3. The UBS4 text does not even acknowledge the possibility of these variants as original.

B. This issue must be dealt with in two ways.

  1. believers are admonished not to judge one another (cf. Matt. 7:1-5; Luke 6:37,42; Rom. 2:1-11; James 4:11-12)

2. believers are admonished to evaluate leaders (cf. Matt. 7:6,15-16; 1 Cor. 14:29; 1 Thess. 5:21; 1 Tim. 3:1-13; and 1 John 4:1-6)

Some criteria for proper evaluation may be helpful.

1. evaluation should be for the purpose of affirmation (cf. 1 John 4:1 – “test” with a view toward approval)

  1. evaluation should be done in humility and gentleness (cf. Gal. 6:1)

  2. evaluation must not focus on personal preference issues (cf. Rom. 14:1-23; 1 Cor. 8:1-13; 10:23-33)

  3. evaluation should identify those leaders who have “no handle for criticism” from within the church or the community (cf. 1 Timothy 3).

Does this make sense to you, @BetterDays and @mkythegreat2026?

J.

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