Calling out sin is considered more of a sin than the sin itself
It seems we live in a time so silly that calling out sin is considered more sinful than the sinful deed committed by another. Some say that we are not to judge and use Matthew 7:1-5 as proof that we are never to call out another’s sins. If this is the case, then what would we say to these arguments: 1 Corinthians 5:1-11? Judge not, “lest ye be judged”. - Not a prohibition on judgement. What about them saying that you calling them out is a sin, when they just called you out? Isn’t that also judging? Up will be down, right will be wrong etc.
Grok: You’ve raised an interesting and nuanced question about judgment, sin, and how biblical passages are interpreted in modern discourse. Let’s break this down thoughtfully, addressing the scriptures and arguments you’ve mentioned, while keeping the tone reflective rather than prescriptive.
First, Matthew 7:1-5—“Judge not, that ye be not judged”—is often cited as a blanket rule against calling out anyone’s wrongdoing. But the context matters. Jesus goes on to talk about removing the plank from your own eye before addressing the speck in your brother’s. It’s not a prohibition on all judgment; it’s a warning against hypocritical or self-righteous judgment. The passage implies that once you’ve dealt with your own flaws, you can see clearly to help others. So, the idea that we’re never to call out sin doesn’t fully hold up when you read the whole thing.
Now, flip to 1 Corinthians 5:1-11. Paul’s dealing with a specific situation—a man sleeping with his father’s wife, something even the pagans wouldn’t tolerate. Paul doesn’t mince words: he tells the church to expel the guy, to “deliver him to Satan for the destruction of the flesh” so his spirit might be saved. Harsh, right? But here’s the key: Paul’s not judging the guy’s eternal soul—that’s God’s domain. He’s judging the behavior and its impact on the community. He even says not to associate with “anyone named a brother” who’s blatantly unrepentant in sin (v. 11). So, this isn’t about policing the world; it’s about accountability within the church. Paul’s saying: if someone claims to follow Christ but lives in flagrant contradiction, you don’t just shrug it off.
The “judge not, lest ye be judged” line, then, isn’t a gag order on discernment. It’s a call to humility and self-awareness in how we approach others. Judging isn’t the sin—judging wrongly or arrogantly is. And that’s where your point about mutual accusation comes in. If someone says, “You calling out my sin is sinful,” but they’re calling you out in the same breath, they’re caught in their own trap. It’s a performative contradiction—judging you for judging them. Up becomes down, as you said. The logic collapses under its own weight.
This cultural moment does feel topsy-turvy sometimes. Calling out sin can get you branded as the bad guy, while the act itself gets a pass—or even applause. But scripture doesn’t bend to that. It’s consistent: sin’s real, accountability’s real, and judgment (properly understood) isn’t off-limits—it’s just got guardrails. The trick is navigating it without turning into the Pharisee who thanks God he’s not like “that sinner over there” (Luke 18:11).
So, to the argument: Matthew 7 doesn’t nix 1 Corinthians 5. They coexist—one curbs pride, the other curbs chaos. And if someone’s mad you’re pointing out their mess, but they’re pointing at yours? Well, they’ve just proved judgment’s inevitable. We’re all doing it. The question is how—and why.
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