These days when someone says “don’t judge me” – they generally mean that you have no right to state an opinion about their behavior or beliefs that might be hurtful or embarrassing to them. This is especially true when they rationalize their actions as not harming anyone.
The BIBLE actually does say that we shouldn't judge un-believers; but does the BIBLE tell us to never judge anyone, as so many Christians seem to believe?
The Apostle Paul, says this about judging un-believers: "What business of mine is it, and what right do I have to judge outsiders?... God alone sits in judgment on those who are outside the church." However, Paul goes on to say that we are supposed to judge other Christians – even to the point of kicking them out of the church if they refuse to repent after their un-Christian actions are pointed out to them. “Isn't it those inside the church that you should judge? Put away the wicked person from among you." 1Co 5:12-13
Furthermore, JESUS himself commanded us to judge: "Be honest in your judgment and stop judging by appearances; but always (continuously) judge fairly and righteously." Joh 7:24 Meaning that we should be in a constant state of Christian discernment in regard to recognizing good and evil, without seeking to punish the sinners ourselves.
To Judge - definition:
The original Greek word krínō translated into English, is the word judge. It simply means to separate/distinguish between right and wrong. Judgement can be righteous or unrighteous depending on the attitude of the person making the judgment.
Misquoted BIBLE Verses
Matthew 7 and James 4 are often misquoted by those who incorrectly believe that the BIBLE tells us to never judge.
Unrighteous judgement is the merciless, prideful condemnation of others – often based on slander and prejudice. ROM 2:1-3 Righteous judgement uses spiritual discernment (BIBLE knowledge) to determine whether the actions and attitudes of other Christians are righteous according to the WORD of GOD. Hence, the full meaning of the word judgement must be determined from the full context of the BIBLE verse where it appears. Mat 7 and Jam 4 are talking about judgement as condemnation; judgement by someone who believes, in their pride, that other people are worthless and undeserving of decent treatment.
In Mat 7:1-3, JESUS says: “Judge not, that you be not judged.” This is the famous verse that condemns hypocrisy: “Cast the beam out of your own eye so you can see clearly to cast the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Symbolically, it means that hypocrites are spiritually blinded by having a big plank of wood (representing their own sins) sticking in their eye. Nevertheless, they are determined to look for and condemn the small sins of others (the speck of dust). JESUS is telling us to be especially careful about judging and condemning others when we have sin in our own lives. In doing so, you are passing judgement on yourself in eternity because GOD will not be merciful to you if you are not merciful to others. The point is: don't be judgmental, hypocritically condemning others (as so many modern christian "leaders" do) defaming Christianity in the process.
James 4:11 says: "Do not speak evil of/slander one another. He that speaks against his brother, and judges his brother, speaks against the Law and judges the Law. But if you judge the Law, you are not a doer of the Law, but a judge." In other words, you are putting yourself above the law; self-righteously bearing false witness and acting as god when you condemn someone (in your own mind) to hell.
People are mistaken in connecting the words “slander” and “judge” as though they mean the same thing. They do not. Slander means “to tell lies about a person in order to damage their reputation”; i.e., bearing false witness as forbidden in the 9th Commandment. You can see that when people confuse judgement with slander, it leads them to accept the idea that all judgement is wrong. The failure of the American evangelical church to judge itself has led to the acceptance of a "broad road" version of christianity that fails to reflect the commandments of JESUS.
Calling sinners to repent is not unrighteous “Judgement”
Sometimes righteousness demands that we rebuke other Christians, calling out their sin(s) so that they can repent and be saved. James 5:19 says: “My brethren, if one of you (a Christian) should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back (to GOD), remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”
How can you convince someone to repent without judging/discussing their sins and/or unbiblical attitudes? Righteous judgment is done as an act of love, reminding someone what they must do to be saved – not as an attack with the desire to punish.
Unrighteous Judgement
Judging according to facts is very different from being judgmental. Being judgmental means to be constantly critical and condemnatory - based on personal opinion, pride, and/or prejudice.
Unrighteous judgements are made when anyone sets themselves as the accuser, judge, jury, and executioner – hypocritically judging according to their own prejudices. Such people, in their pride, are happy to consign others to hell from their self-appointed position as a sanctimonious judge (even if it is only in their own minds). This attitude is representative of the modern hypocrite church that wants to judge the world without first judging themselves.
Only GOD knows who can be saved and GOD is the only judge who can condemn. If you want GOD to give you another chance when you sin, then you should, according to scripture, desire the same thing for others. As such, righteous judgement within the church should be for correction, not condemnation.
Where the rubber meets the road…
Any teaching on judgement is complicated by the fact that entire denominations in modern America have been influenced by the false teaching known as unconditional eternal security (OSAS). Unconditional security that makes them believe that they will be saved regardless of their un-Biblical actions and attitudes. Moreover, many American evangelicals have been taught to condemn (to hell) anyone who does not agree, point for point, with their vengeful right-wing politics and they openly condemn their perceived political enemies as being demonic. It is ironic and frustrating that the people who refuse to be rebuked/judged are among the most judgmental people in the nation.
In relation to this blog, it hasn’t surprised me that people continue to accuse me of being judgmental (and even divisive) by exposing the traditional religious racism of the American church. When people see their golden calves being skewered by BIBLICAL truth, they attack the messenger and claim that they are being judged/slandered as individuals. However, the information presented here only seeks to bring group attitudes and beliefs into question, by comparing them to what the BIBLE actually says. I call on all people to test their tradition and denominational beliefs against the Scripture. Repent and “change your mind”.
