Question: My congregation is trying to remove some members who have not worshipped at church for a year or more. The pastor and elders are only human, and the Bible says that only God can look into the heart. How can they know if someone is a believer or not and take such an action? 

Answer:

A. It is absolutely correct to say that only God can look at the heart and mind of a human being. (I Samuel 16:7) It is even correct to conclude that when another human being looks at the “outward appearance” (I Samuel 16:7) that he might come to an incorrect conclusion about the spiritual condition of that person.

But in spite of possible human error—which even a great spiritual leader like Samuel could make—God still tells His believing people to make such observations and judgments, and how to go about it. God truly cares about every soul’s welfare.

One of the most often mis-quoted Bible verses is: “Do not judge and you will not be judged” (Luke 6:37). The mis-quoting takes place when verse 38 is excluded from the context. There, Jesus went on to say: “For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” That “measure” refers not only to the way we measure out good gifts to others as mentioned in verse 38, but in the context it also refers to the previous verse, which means it is also talking about the way we measure out judgments toward other people.

In light of that, think about the way our Lord will measure out judgment when we stand before Him at the time of death. It will be entirely on the basis of His words and promises. Anything God declares to be sinful, will be declared that way based on what His commandments and instructions in the Bible have told us for centuries. Nor will it be any surprise when those so accused hear that “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

On the other hand, God has clearly stated many times that “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord” (Romans 6:23), and that “Whoever believes on the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36).

At this point in this discussion, the questioner could still ask: “But how can you read the heart? What makes you think they haven’t asked God for forgiveness?” This is the point at which our Lord tells us how to make these judgments, as well as the fact that we should be making them.

God is not asking Christians to read hearts, since only He can do that. However, in Matthew 7 Jesus says, “Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit…therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:17, 20). Jesus defines what is good fruit, “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24). Good fruit is believing God’s Word, living in repentance, and doing God’s holy will. In one of His parables Jesus describes the seed falling on good ground as “those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). Those who show that they will not repent of sin and will not follow God’s holy will in their lives give outward evidence that they do not have saving faith. St. James adds, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” James 2:14-17). In Scripture God has given believers the authority to judge another Christian’s faith based on outward repentance and actions or the lack of them.

But should such judgments be made? Again, let God answer that question, not our emotions. St. Paul was compelled to write to the Corinthians because they were tolerating (and thus encouraging) ongoing and unrepentant sin in their midst. In their case, the sin was of a sexual nature, although which particular sin is being committed isn’t really the issue—true repentance and faith is the issue.

Sometimes people are so blinded to their own spiritual deadness that they convince themselves they are Christians when in reality they are not. The question Jesus asked in Mark 8:18: “Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?” can apply just as well here. Sometimes a pastor, elder, or congregation might need to help the spiritually blind to see their dangerous situation in the light of God’s Word.

The loving purpose for dealing with the congregation members who have not been attending worship for a long time is to provide them with the proper application of Law, which shows them just how spiritually dangerous it is to not worship Jesus publicly, and also the proper application of the Gospel, telling them the good news that Jesus is their Savior. The goal is to encourage these fellow members to worship Christ rightly. St. Paul teaches that the congregation’s true objective is to "restore such an one in the spirit of meekness."

The essence of the third commandment still applies to the lives of God’s children. For in the New Testament God says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some” (Hebrews 10:25). Neglecting to worship Christ harms one's faith. Hearing God's good news of mercy and forgiveness regularly is faith-strengthening. Members of a Christian congregation should always rejoice when loving admonition and encouragement leads to repentance and faith so that there is no longer any doubt that the person believes in Jesus for forgiveness of sins.

Paul Zager is pastor of Holton Lutheran Church in Holton, Michigan and a member of the ELS Doctrine Committee.

Send your questions to Rev. Paul Zager, PO Box 181, Twin Lake, MI 49457