The Bible Restricts Believers from Judging One Each Other

Hello there,In this debate, I will be taking the Con position which entails the idea that according to the Bible, it is completely consistent in it's message that believers are able to judge one another. Please note that I have setup the debate as you desired.My Argument will follow this structure:1. The Proper Understanding of Matthew 7:1-52. Believers Are to Judge Those Within, 1 Corinthians 5:123. Ironing Out the Details, A Look at Other Relevant TextsAnd without further ado, may the debate begin. 1. The Proper Understanding of Matthew 7:1-5In Mattew 7:1-5, Jesus makes the following statement:“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye."[1]In v.1, he states an imperative command to not judge. This command or warning is set in place because he warns that the in the manner you judge others, you also will be judged. Does this then conclude that my entire contention is therefore incorrect, or perhaps is this not a universal prohibition of judging, but only of a particular variety.In v.3, Jesus gives a short analogy of two brothers (Christian brothers) who have something in their eyes. The significance of this analogy is drawn out in the simple words, "You hypocrite," which reveals the primary application of this message. The brother was in error not for pointing out the speck in his brothers eye, as Jesus quickly says, "then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye." Rather, the brother was in error because he attempted to remove the speck from the brother's eye whilst he still had the log in his own.Also, if one were to practice righteous judgement without hypocrisy, would not the warning of the same measure of judgement being applied to him only work for his benefit? The logic is rather simple, which makes this warning only applicable to those who would unjustly judge as a hypocrite.Indeed, this topic of hypocrisy is one of the primary themes of the Sermon on the Mount. As the Greek Word P17;ποκριτ^2;ς (Hypocrite), appears earlier in the Sermon in Matthew 6:2,5,15.[2] This of course was a criticism of the Pharisees who displayed and outward form of obedience, that was not from the heart. Which Jesus' overall message in this Sermon was of a genuine life who looked for the reward from heaven, and not from man.2. Believers Are to Judge Those Within, 1 Corinthians 5:12In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul makes this statement:"But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”[3]Just prior to this statement, he clarified that this does not in any way apply to those who are not believers, as he says, "not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world." Rather, in v.11, he goes on to indicate that this command is applicable to the following kind of person.1. One who claims to be a brother and is guilty of any of the following.A. Sexual Immorality.B. Greed.C. Idolatry.D. Reviling.E. Drunkenness F. SwindlingThere was in fact a present example of this in the Corinthian Church. A man was sleeping with his Father's wife, and the behavior was tolerated.[4] This man was to be cut off from fellowship, but we learn later that he was restored after repenting.[5] It is demonstrable that this passage does not conflict others which warn against judgement against the brothers. If those who were also guilty according to the standards set above, and in judging another expelled them, the warnings of Matthew 7 and other passages would apply. This particular judgement was to be made by the Church leadership/congregation, and was for the purpose of protecting the purity of the congregation as well as restoring and saving the person in sin.I believe both of these passages likely carry the same sense of the word "to judge", but what matters is that within those contexts you have two different kinds of peoples evaluating, the righteous Christians and the hypocrites. 3. Ironing Out the Details, A Look at Other Relevant TextsThe first of the two relevant texts I will be addressing will be Romans 2:1Romans 2:1"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things."[6]This is a warning passage against men who judge others, and yet "practice the very same things." This passage again falls into the same subject matter we have been discussing from the onset, which demonstrates the consistency of the message on the matter. This warning is also set against hypocrisy, of those who condemn a practice and yet do the same things.This therefore does not in any way condemn the kind of behavior outlined by Paul (the same writer) in 1 Corinthians 5, as that is under the assumption the judging party is not guilty of the same actions as well. Romans 14:3-4 "Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand."[7]Once again, we have a passage that appears to on the face of the matter contradict my initial contention. However, I will demonstrate that by putting this statement in it's properly understood context we will find that this is not the case.In v.1 of the same chapter Paul admonishes those (by implication) stronger in the faith to accept those who may be weaker in the faith and not to quarrel over opinions.[8] In v.2 he says this, "One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables." What was happening was the fact that Jewish Christians had come from a culture in which certain foods were prohibited in being eaten, such as a pig. This was a common issue among the Early Church, as Paul had to address it on several occasions, where Jewish Christians were judging Gentile Christians for indulging in the freedom they have in Christ to eat what they may. While Gentile Christians were not being tactful on the matter, and would often cause their Jewish brothers to stumble.[9]Therefore, these statements made by Paul, are specific argument against not judgement in general, but judgement in regards to the differences of opinion on these non-essential issues, such as what one can eat, or what days to esteem. This absolutely cannot be applied logically to the situations where one's behavior is not permissible, such as is the case in 1 Corinthians 5.Concluding Statements:Based upon the arguments I have made above, it is my strong contention that the idea that the Bible is contradictory on the matter of Believers judging one another, to be a misunderstanding of the individual passages once the contexts have been investigated. Please note, that I am not of the opinion that the Bible in it's 66 books is entirely and completely consistent, without contradiction or error. I do not affirm the doctrine of Biblical Infallibility, and it is not my motivation to sustain this doctrine by refuting this point. However, I do hold that this particular objection to that doctrine lacks sufficient justification.Kind Regards,TrueScotsman[1] Matthew 7:1-5 (ESV)[2] Matthew 6 (ESV)[3] 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 (ESV)[4] 1 Corinthians 5:1 (ESV)[5] 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 (ESV)[6] Romans 2:1 (ESV)[7] Romans 14:3-4 (ESV)[8] Romans 14:1 (ESV)[9] Romans 14:15 (ESV)