By: K. B. Napier

Is it right to judge others?  I have been told, on many occasions, that we must not be judgmental or that we have no right to judge others.  Is this true?  Before we continue, let us differentiate 'judgmentally' and 'judgment': To be 'judgmental' (nowadays) is to be pompously pious, but to 'judge' is to weigh up matters and to convey one's conclusions.

When we examine scripture, we find that Christians are to judge each other. We will not look at all texts which refer to judging others:  the following examples suffice:

The numbers in brackets above refer to the following notes:

If we check these meanings against the text, then, we will soon discover that judging others is not the issue in this text...the argument is aimed at those who are hypocrites. They pretend to be 'holier-than-thou' but they condemn the very same things they themselves are guilty of. They see (in their minds) the massive flaws in others and blow them out of all proportion, whilst their own flaws (of the same kind) are much greater and far more obvious. These are warned to take a close look at themselves and to rectify their own errors immediately. Only then may they approach others, in an attitude of humility, in order to help/warn them. This is repeated in a very similar way in later texts written by Paul.

In Luke 12:56,57 the Lord scoffs at us for refusing to judge even the smallest of things: "(Ye) hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?  Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?"  The sense of this is very straightforward - we are all very good at judging the weather and other observable things.  We even judge things we know nothing about! Yet, we pretend not to be able to judge other Believers!  I say 'pretend', because that is exactly what is done. To our faces, people tell us they cannot judge...but behind our backs, it is a different story! Even if we say we never discuss the flaws of others, the very fact that we say that means that we inwardly and secretly think about it and we inwardly judge. It is farcical and dishonest to say that we do not judge others...as Christ Himself observed.

As we see in John 5:30, the judgment of Christ is perfect, because it is based on the Father's will. This is reinforced in later Biblical texts, which point out that when we judge, we must do so righteously (i.e. in God's will). Then, in 1 Corinthians 6 etc., we are castigated by the Apostle for not judging each other and for letting our arguments spill over into the world.  We shall judge the world and the angels one day...yet we claim we cannot judge each other in the smallest of matters?  Rubbish! says the Apostle.  Indeed, he is disgusted with us and says " I speak to your shame".

If we may not judge each other, then what on earth did Paul mean when he said "I speak unto wise men; judge ye what I say"?  Unless we wish to make complete nonsense of language, it means that we should examine and pass conclusions. That is, we must judge! It is important that we judge each other, because by doing so we will not be judged by the world. And when we are judged, it is for the purpose of chastening, stopping us from doing wrong and urging us to do good. It is a dynamic way of faith.

It is a sad reflection on our Christian lives that so few Believers are willing to be judged by their fellows.  They prefer to carry on in their sins than to change their lives. On the other hand, every Christian thinks he is always right in his judgment when, in fact, he is merely expressing  badly formed and highly subjective opinions. Godly judgment has nothing in common with opinions of men! True judgment is a careful weighing-up of the facts. They are measured against scripture (our only source of declared truth).  If they fall below the Biblical standard, then they are judged to be wanting and a warning may be issued. Judging others is partly a function of discipline and the aim of all discipline is to bring a person back to God and the right path. We must never be afraid to judge others...so long as we are not guilty of the same things ourselves.

God requires us, as thinking, rational beings, to order our lives according to His word.  We cannot do this without applying judgments, about everyday situations as well as about serious and far-reaching ones.  It is a lie to say that we do not judge others, because we do it all the time.  Like the evangelical smile which can hide the face of hatred, a non-judgment attitude can hide a heart full of hypocrisy.  Judge, but judge well.  Warn, but do not be guilty of the same things.  I no longer listen to those who tell me not to judge others - they do not know what they are talking about.  Often, their motives are questionable...the one who shouts the most about not judging others, is the most likely candidate for being judgmental in his heart,  with hypocrisy.

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© November 1993

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