Are We To Judge?
Sometimes Christians will make pronouncements about a Christian subject without understanding, or even consulting, what scripture says about it. Christians should always start from scripture. Since there is so much muddling on the subject of judging, much of it deliberate, it's easy for Christians to be confused. One thing is sure, people who are doing wrong do not like that word.
Anyone who says, "You're not supposed to judge!" or "Who are you to judge?" is judging. They are judging that the other person is engaging in judging, and they are judging that the act of judging is wrong. If someone thinks it is wrong to disapprove of what they are doing, how can they disapprove of that person themselves? That is blatant hypocrisy. Moreover, the philosophy that we are not supposed to judge is a logical impossibility.
As Christians, we should first look to what scripture says on any subject. And we should always be prepared to toss out any views we hold that contradict scripture. With the world constantly speaking to us through non-Christian coworkers, friends, family, media, and entertainment, we are bound to have picked up anti-biblical views on some things. As Christians, we must hold scripture as the standard for our lives and beliefs. Scripture has three ways we are to judge, and three ways we are not to judge. So let us examine what scripture says about judging. And the logical place to begin is the most misquoted scripture on the subject.
Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged."
People trying to stop others from judging them always stop at verse 1. More often, they like to use a King James sounding, "Judge not, lest ye be judged." But even that is a misquote. The actual King James Version is "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Regardless, stopping here is taking the verse out of context to completely reverse the meaning. Let's look at it in context.
Matthew 7:1-5 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."
Jesus uses the log and speck metaphor for sin. No where does it say not to take the speck out of our Christian brother's eye. It says not to be a hypocrite. The person who tells others they shouldn't judge is not just misusing this scripture, but is actually violating it. The hypocrisy is they are allowed to judge others in saying not to judge, but others are not to judge them.
What this scripture is really saying is before we can help our brother we must have fixed this sin in ourselves. Only when we are right in our own life with that same sin can we help our brother with his. Jesus is not calling on us not to judge, but to judge ourselves first and fix this sin in our own lives. Then we are to judge our brother and help them out of their sin. We are to be actively involved in helping other Christians with their problems.
A brother who uses the occasional curse word cannot be helped by someone who drops an F-bomb every third word. Only someone who has control over their own tongue can teach another how to do the same. Just like someone who can't and never could throw is useless trying to help a professional quarterback.
Jesus is absolutely not saying never judge. He's saying it's important how you judge. There are several types of judgement we are not to do. And Matthew 7:1-5 addresses the first one, don't judge hypocritically. Paul repeats Jesus' instruction in Romans.
Romans 2:1-3 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
Paul is not saying don't judge. He makes it clear that if we are able to see a sin in a brother's life we have no excuse for doing it ourselves. Clearly, we know it's wrong. The implication is that it will be worse for the one who knows better and still does the sin. In secular law, ignorance of the law is not an excuse, but is a mitigating factor in sentencing. A judge will usually impose a much smaller penalty, or possibly none at all, for one who was ignorant. But he is likely to throw the book at one who has reported others for the same crime as this means they clearly knew it was wrong.
Even if we don't have the sin we are trying to help our brother with, we still need to be careful in how we help.
Galatians 6:1-2 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
It bears repeating that in order to catch someone in a sin requires that we judge them. That being said, there are specific instructions for how to restore the sinning brother. The first instruction is to judge ourselves to keep ourselves from falling into the same sin. If he's going to strip clubs, it's not a good idea to join them in there. But hyperbole aside, there is a legitimate chance of being sucked into the sin if one gets into the environment of that sin, especially when it involves addictive substances or behaviors. For most people the path into drug addiction is through the people they associate with.
The second instruction is we must restore them in gentleness. If we can't do that, we should leave it to someone who can. (We have different gifts after all.) A harsh approach is more likely to drive them away from Christ than to Him. But once the fallen brother has accepted that they need restoration, even those that can't be gentle in confronting that sin can help bear his burden with encouragement, wisdom and scripture.
The second type of judgement we are not to do is judgement where we reinvent morality to suit ourselves.
Isaiah 5:20-21 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!
People who do this are inventing their own morality, or more commonly, adopting the morality of the pagan culture. This was what Paul was addressing in 1st Corinthians. The Corinthian church was adopting the attitudes and values of the pagan culture, setting aside God's morality. When people say something is good when scripture is explicit that it is not, like saying that sexual immorality is not a sin, then they are judging wrongly and against scripture. Unfortunately, this is another thing that those who say we are not to judge are doing as well.
The third way we are not to judge is to go beyond what God has said or beyond what we know. In other words, don't make assumptions. Two examples of this are judging people's motives and judging on disputable matters. These are things beyond our knowledge. Therefore, we are not to judge in these areas.
1 Corinthians 4:4-5 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.
Paul is saying he can't judge what he doesn't know. Only God can do that. So there is a point where a Christian's judgment should stop and leave it to God and Judgement Day. This scripture is a great example of the right way to avoid this kind of judgement. Paul has been judging the Corinthian church left and right on things that are very clear as to what God has said. But here Paul states he has limits, and therefore he will not continue in judgement beyond what he knows. Only God can reveal the motives of people and other hidden things. We should not even try to judge those things.
Among things we don't know are what scripture calls disputable matters. These are things that are not indisputable truths like the gospel. That Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected is indisputable. Which way to conduct baptism is a disputable matter. Whether drinking is okay or not and other matters of personal conscience are disputable matters.
Romans 14:1-4 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Neither side of this is to judge the other. They are to act according to their own conscience and not try to put it on the other. This is another often misused scripture. It's often used to try to argue for the lowest common denominator. The argument is that the most restrictive view should be the rule. However, this scripture clearly tells both the one who's conscience is free and the one who's conscience restricts them not to put their own views on the other. If we read the rest of Romans, Paul clearly says we are free from such things as restrictions on drinking, or even eating what was sacrificed to idols. In 1 Corinthians 10:25 & 27 Paul says just don't ask and avoid the subject. But if it will cause a conscience problem for a brother, then don't eat it in their presence. Just like I won't drink in front of an alcoholic to avoid making it harder for them. But neither will I tell a brother they shouldn't drink when they have no problem with it and cause them to get caught up in legalism. Either path would be a stumbling block to my brother.
Scripture also tells us how we are to judge. The first way is we are to agree with God.
Romans 10:9-10 That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
Here confession is saying, "God, you are right about this." We are judging that this is the truth. And we repeat the truth of God when we say it. When we say God says something is sin that is clearly so in scripture, we are agreeing with God and confessing that it is sin. This is a righteous judgement.
The second way we are to judge is to call evil what is evil, and good what is good.
Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
A mature Christian should, by practice, be able to judge good and evil. And we are to preach righteousness. The entire Bible is full of people publicly preaching righteousness, judging between good and evil. John the Baptist would specifically addressed the sin issues of individuals that came to hear him. If we don't address sin, then there is no reason for people to seek Christ for salvation. If a doctor won't address the illness, then the patient won't take the cure.
Ephesians 5:11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
It's hard to expose the deeds of darkness if we don't judge what they are.
The third way we are to judge is if someone is living as a Christian or not.
1 John 3:7-10 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
Matthew 7:15-20 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits."
Bad actors with their own agenda will disrupt the unity of the church and mislead people away from the gospel. That is what Paul is dealing with in 1st Corinthians. We aren't to judge motives. But we are to judge their actions in how they live their lives. We aren't looking for perfection, but that they are trying to live out their faith. Since everyone sins, admitting to it is a good sign. Hiding it is a bad sign. We can't judge motives, but are to judge actions.
Titus 1:5-9 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.
1 Timothy 3:8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
We are to judge if people are fit to hold office in the church as elders or deacons. (A scriptural elder includes what we call a pastor today.) They must have scriptural doctrine locked in, teach it, and refute those that contradict it.
The fact is, we judge constantly. Removing judgement would result in a disastrous life. We judge what is the right action to take, what we need to do, and what will have the most benefit to us or others. Whenever we enter an intersection we judge whether it is safe to do so. When we witness to a person, we judge whether it is possible and the best approach. And we judge actions as to whether they are right or wrong. If we didn't do that, then how would we ever know to report a crime?
We are to judge:
We are not to judge:
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB © The Lockman Foundation.
If you have a question, you can find the email address to write to on the FAQ Page under the Questions FAQ.