To judge or Not to Judge?

Another topic that has been on my heart for some time, and I feel is very important, deals with a subject we hear and see written about constantly in this day and age; that we are not allowed to judge others.  It seems to be so prevalent in some Christian circles that I believe it may have become a cult.  So I am taking this very seriously. 

I apologize for the length of this discussion, but it's difficult to cover the topic as thoroughly as I feel it needs to be covered.  There is so much I haven't touched on, because I’m trying to keep it pretty short. So here we go!

Many Christians/non-Christians love to quote what the Bible says about judging.  They read in Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”  Jesus’ command not to judge others could be the most widely quoted of His sayings, even though it is almost invariably quoted in complete disregard of its context.  Many people use this verse in an attempt to silence their critics, interpreting Jesus’ meaning as “You don’t have the right to tell me I’m wrong.”  Taken out of context, Jesus’ command “Do not judge” does seem to preclude all negative assessments. However, there is much more to the passage than those three words.

I think it’s important to understand what making a "judgement" really means.  One definition is the "capacity for making decisions," from the Old French, Jugement: "legal judgment; diagnosis; the faculty of being able to make critical distinctions and achieve a balanced viewpoint; discernment”

Synonyms are: determination, discrimination, discernment, perspicacity; sagacity, wisdom, intelligence, prudence, verdict, decree.

So, first of all, we are called to be discerning, which requires a "judgement" call.  1 Kings 3:9-10 tells us, "So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish (judge) between right and wrong.  For who is able to govern this great people of yours?  The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.”  And in Psalm 1:1 we are told, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.”  If we are to follow this guidance, then how are we to discern whom the “wicked” are that the Bible is speaking of if we do not pass some sort of judgment upon them?   

And second, by helping someone to see the "wrong" in their life (son, daughter, friend), you are only bringing to their attention what scripture (God’s Word) has already judged.  In Isaiah 7:15 we are told, “He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right."  And to choose whether something is “right” requires making a judgement.  Luke 12:57 says, “And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right?

 Hebrews 5:14, “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."   Distinguish means: “to perceive clearly by sight or other sense; discern; recognize."  So to distinguish “good” from “evil" a judgement must be made.

 People also overlook another very important fact.  Jesus made very clear in Matthew 18:15-17 that, “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

How can the church discipline someone who has sinned if they cannot make a judgement?  Now, Jesus does condemn hypocritical, self-righteous judgments of others.  As Christians, we are called to judge righteously, and to confront them lovingly and humbly.  And so believers should examine their own lives regularly.

Judging things, such as what we eat, what day we worship (Rom. 14:5), what Bible translation we read, what we watch on TV, or between right and wrong, is something we do every day.  But we are not to judge based on our own opinions.  Instead, judge by the word of God, for that is what it means to judge righteously.  God always encouraged Israel to judge.  He told them to judge the prophets in the Old Testament.  He had the true prophets judge the false, but the people reacted saying the very same things people are saying today, “Your being negative, or you never have anything good to say.”  In the New Testament we are told to judge prophecy, to discern, to test the spirits; we are told to test ALL things.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 Paul taught that, “…if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.  Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”   Strong guidelines that many avoid doing today.  Yet, this is done not to condemn, but to bring repentance and restoration.

“Let’s let God decide who’s right or wrong.”  Does this sound familiar?  There has been a trend going on for a number of years that has dulled the spiritual senses of the church, and weakened the convictions of many Christians.  It has risen to new heights lately where if anyone has anything to say about another they are told, “Don't judge!”  What is ironic is that to tell people they are judgmental is to judge them.

Now, let’s go back and take another look at those famous words in Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”  At first glance it appears that Jesus does forbid judging, but let’s continue to read verses 2-5.  “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.”

In other words, you can judge as long as you are not doing the same thing.  If you want to help someone, you must take care of yourself first, and then you are able to see and care for someone else.  Jesus does not say don't operate under any circumstances, but He allows us to remove the speck from ourselves first so we can see.

In Matthew 7:16 Jesus goes on to say, “By their fruit you will recognize them…”   In judging their “fruits,” we must judge by God's Word.  To clarify a bit, the seed is the word of God.  As it grows in us we mature until we become like a tree that will bear fruit. (Psalm 1)  Christ is using a natural example of a spiritual principle—a mature tree bears fruit. If the seed is the word, then the tree must be of the word.  So a good tree bears good fruit.  The fruit can't be good if it is not based on the word.  In other words, they need to have correct doctrine and teach it properly.  This doesn’t mean one is correct in everything, but they will hold to the core teachings and are consistent in these.  They will not say one thing one time, and then contradict themselves another time.

This statement sums up what Jesus meant on judging.  In John 7:24 it says: “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”  Jesus is saying we can “judge” but only do it correctly, not by what you see or hear, but by the Word of truth.  Just because you don't want to judge does not mean you have the right to tell others not to.  To accuse others of doing what the Bible tells us to do—is to judge without a righteous judgment.

Paul wrote in Philippians 3:15-17, “All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too, God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.”  Paul used himself, and the other apostles, as our physical examples in everything.  Since Paul was not able to deal individually with the many false teachers springing up like weeds in the different areas, He said to follow his example as he followed Christ.  Christ openly showed what is false, so did Paul, and so did the other apostles.

Much of the New Testament was written to publicly correct false teaching within the Church itself.  In 2 Timothy 2:17, 4:10, Paul did a lot of judging and warning when it came to false teachers that could influence the church, because he cared.  What if Paul didn't judge and allowed Alexander to continue teaching?  And what if Peter let Simon Magus stay in the Church?  Think it through! 

We also have permission to judge false doctrine, and those who really care do so.  Why do I say this movement of “do not judge” may be a cult?  Because for the most part they follow their leaders advice and not the shepherd of their souls.  They are not thinking, as the Bible tells us “to test ALL things.” (2 Corinthians 2:9)  Many are not being taught how to think, instead they have been taught what to think.  I know this may be harsh to some, but it’s telling it straight. When we willfully do what we are told, without our checking it out ourselves, we become like the cults.  Those who do not judge teaching are actually disobeying what the Bible tells us to do.  And they are telling others to do the same, sometimes by intimidation.  

Many of us see this as a very dangerous trend going on inside the Church.  It needs to stop, and we need to get back to what the Bible actually says.

2 John 1:10, 11 says, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.”  It may not say the word judge or test, but it is obvious one must do so to know there is a difference in doctrine. 

Jesus applauded those who judged to arrive at the truth, “I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.” (Revelation 2:2)  And all the apostles approved judging those who claimed leadership positions.

1) We are to be discerning (Colossians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:21)

2) We are to preach the whole counsel of God, including the Bible’s teaching on sin (Acts 20:27, 2 Timothy 4:2)

3) We are to gently confront erring brothers or sisters in Christ (Galatians 6:1)

4) We are to practice church discipline (Matthew 18:15–17)

5) We are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15)

And finally, read Ezekiel 33 where the watchman who sees the coming judgement from the Lord, but does not warn others of the impending punishment, is held responsible for his failure to sound the alarm.

We will be held accountable! 

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