Do We Have the Right to Judge Another Person’s Doctrine?

In short, yes and no.  But let’s be more biblical than that.

In Luke 12, Jesus knew that his doctrine was causing a division among the people and the religious leaders of the day and yet he did not try to stop the division.  Actually he spoke to his disciples in the first twelve verses to beware the doctrine of the Pharisees because it was hypocrisy.  Jesus then speaks to the people in the latter part of the chapter about their inability to discern right and wrong.  He tells them they can judge the weather but don’t seem to be able to know sound doctrine.  This message is brought to climax when Jesus says in verse 57, “Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?”  He tells them to judge what is right.

Yes, we do have a biblical right/duty to judge sound doctrine, especially in the doctrine of those who are leading others astray.  An example in my estimation would be men like John Calvin who clearly taught much false doctrine, yet, his name is claimed by many today almost above their title of Christian.  As some examples:

John Calvin taught it was acceptable to execute those who opposed Calvinist doctrine, such as Michael Servetus, who rejected infant baptism which Calvin allowed and taught:

“But I am unwilling to pledge my word for his (Michael Servetus) safety, for if he shall come [to Geneva], I shall never permit him to depart alive, provided my authority be of any avail.” - Bonnet and Gilchrist, Letters of John Calvin: Compiled From the Original Manuscripts and Edited With Historical Notes, 2:19.

John Calvin said at the trial of Michael Servetus:

“I hope that the verdict will call for the death penalty.” - http://www.the-highway.com/servetus_Boettner.html

John Calvin taught that the Lord’s Supper was a part of salvation: 

The “Eucharist provided the “undoubted assurance of eternal life to our minds, but also secures the immortality of our flesh.” - Calvin’s “Institutes of the Christian Religion,” 4.17.32.

When I point out the error in John Calvin, I am within my biblical rights as Jesus admonished in Luke 12 as both these doctrines, as other Calvin taught, are not biblical doctrine.

However…

I cannot judge whether Calvin, because of his doctrines, was condemned to hell and that is the “NO” part of the answer to the original question.

You see, though it is biblical to say whether a person’s doctrine is sound, because, the Bible clearly outlines what is sound doctrine.  It is wrong to judge another person’s salvation because of their supposed doctrine alone.  Now mind you, it is fair to say “IF a person believes their salvation is by works, then they are not saved,” but the key to that is the  word “IF.”  Salvation is a personal decision and a personal work of God in the life of an individual heart and life.  Philippians 2:12 makes it very clear that we are to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”  Nowhere are we to allowed to judge another man’s salvation, even based upon unsound doctrine.

Can a person with certain unsound doctrines be saved?  The answer is yes, IF they have accepted in their hearts what God’s Word requires for their salvation - by grace through faith in God’s Son, Jesus, through His death, burial, and resurrection and this faith reflected in our repentance of sins.  Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:16; Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:13.  

Was John Calvin doctrinally right? NO!  Was John Calvin saved? That is between John Calvin and God.  I have judged but not judged his doctrine..so, yes and no.