The church encourages good behaviour and discourages the evil. Furthermore it promotes and holds in high esteem those of pure conscience. These may be given the office of bishop or deacon (1 Tim 2).
For the church, therefore, to function and vigour, accurate assessment of character must be able to be made. If this cannot be done, just as: If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked (Prov 29:12), so, in the church, it will happen that: the wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted. (Psalm 12:8) True character witness, therefore, is essential in the church.
Lest, also, they make: the heart of the righteous sad and strengthen: the hands of the wicked (Ezek 13:22) true judgement is to be enunciated. And also for this reason the: aged women are not to be false accusers. (Tit 2:3)
False accusation is a serious sin. David says: Let not an evil speaker be established. (Psalm 140:11)
Jezebel, Ahab’s wife instructed men to bear false witness against Naboth, saying: Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. (1 Kings 21:10) Immediately the judgement of God was pronounced upon both Ahab and Jezebel. Against Ahab, Elijah said: In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. (1 Kings 21:19) And against Jezebel, God said: The dogs shall eat Jezebel. (1 Kings 21:23)
Whilst we should not condemn the just, we also should not hold in too high esteem, those who are not worthy. Ananias and Sapphira, his wife falsely boasted of their generosity. When there was a desperate need in the early church, and when many true Christians sold their houses and lands, giving away all the proceeds, Ananias and Sapphira pretended to do the same. They sold a possession and gave part of the money, but said they gave it all. For their lie, Peter rebuked Ananias, saying: thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost. (Acts 5:4,5) Their sin was not withholding, as they did not have to give all. Their sin was lying about it.
The result of this judgement was that no more unbelievers like Ananias and Sapphira pretended to be Christians. Whilst seekers may come to some of the church gatherings, enquiring after the Lord, it is important that the unsaved do not assume positions of prominence in the church, lest it be defiled.
It is good to recognise those of faith and virtue in the church, that we may learn from them and assist them. Paul wrote to the church in Rome, saying: I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: that ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. (Rom 16:1-4)