Witnesses & Judges

Witnesses and judges both play crucial roles in the judicial system. The simple truth of the gospel message is that God can, does and will judge sin in humanity. Sometimes as church members and church leaders we are called to play a role in that judgement. In today’s post I want to explore some basics of church judiciary, and explore key differences between witnesses and judges.

Witness

A witness is a person who gives testimony about something they have seen or heard themselves. They are required to give faithful and true testimony but are not required to pass judgement over another.

Judge

A judge is a person who has power and authority to implement consequences. A judge is required to make judgements upon others over whom they have authority.

You may be thinking, ‘Um, isn’t that a little obvious Adam?’ And you would be right. In my experience however, understanding and application of the above definitions can be a rare thing indeed! Especially when it comes to church and ministry life!

Even in the most vibrant and healthy churches sin can still come in and cause broken relationships, fear, confusion, accusation and more. Having great policies in place for when things go wrong is crucial, and Co-lab Consulting can help develop and implement those policies (ask us how here). Some churches handle these scenarios very well, and others not so well. What is the difference between ministries who respond well when there is sin in the camp and those who just cannot seem to get on top of it?

In my observations, working with many ministries in different cultures and denominations, one of the key differences is that the church congregation understands the difference between witnesses and judges. When sin is revealed and the congregation is healthy (generally because the leadership team is healthy) they understand that witnesses need to give faithful and true testimony, independent and fair investigations need to take place and impartial, just and righteous judges will pass judgements on sins that come to light. And hopefully the guilty party or parties, acknowledge their sin and begin a process of forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration.

They get that, because they understand that that is the gospel message.

However, when sin comes to light and the congregation is unhealthy (generally because the leadership team is unhealthy) this is not what happens. The church congregation does not discern the difference between witnesses and judges, and church members (and leaders!) who have not seen or heard anything immediately place themselves as judges before any investigation takes place at all. They don’t know anything, yet immediately presume themselves to be judges!

And the larger the congregation is the faster the emotional maturity deteriorates. Before long, everyone is a judge, polarisation has taken place and people begin to setup their respective camps ‘for’ or ‘against’ the people they have judged. Still other church members want to pretend no sin has taken place, and therefore no need for witnesses or judges!

If you have ever been in a setting where this has taken place, it is quite unsettling. I have been present where this has played out in different churches and denominations, it is equally disturbing wherever you go. It is in these environments where mob justice can begin to take form. And mob justice has the emotional maturity of a 6 year old. (I read a fascinating book by Gustav Le Bon The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind which explores this phenomena)

It is little wonder that in these environments witnesses do not wish to give testimony at all and people who have committed the sin do not want to confess at all. The people who are required to be judges do not seek to make judgements at all, lest they incur the wrath of the mob. The day on which I am writing this post is Good Friday 2024. It is a poignant reminder to me of how the crowd can be fickle, and how the crowd can be dangerous. The Son of God experienced this peculiarity (and evil) of human nature in the last week of His life on Earth.

So how can we best prepare our churches to respond in godly, Christlike ways when sin can and does come to light in our churches? As always, by looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Jesus is both the faithful and true witness, and the righteous and just judge. He has a complete record of what every person has done, and He will judge every action, every intention righteously and justly. Yet He also is merciful. And Jesus has instructed us that we have the ability to tell Him how to judge us. By the measure a person judges another, that is the measure He will use to judge the person. This truth leads me to conclude that as much as possible I want to remain in the role of witness, and not judge. For where I judge, I too will be judged.

Yet of course there are times where I must judge. Where I must make decisions that affect the lives of others. In these moments I do not shirk away from the responsibility, but instead seek to make judgements not based on outward appearance, but instead based on righteousness. Fairly, firmly, and as much as possible, transparently.

Healthy congregants understand that before justice there has to be truth. We do not have Jesus’ advantage of knowing every sin fully and completely and we often have an incomplete record (and contradictory accounts) of what has taken place. Which is why we need to investigate thoroughly and without partiality. (God gave the same instruction to the children of Israel in the Old Testament - asking them to have a role in judgement, but only after thorough and fair investigation had taken place)

As leaders in the body of Christ, it must start with us. How well do we stay out of the role of judge, when God has not asked us to judge? How righteously do we fulfil the role of judge when God does call us to it?

Answering these questions well, not just in our policies but in our practices, will prepare our churches to respond in healthy, loving and Christlike ways when we need to address sin in the church. We will help our congregants to know for themselves when they are to be witnesses, and when they are to be judges. They will look to our example, as we together look to His.