One of the most misused phrases I hear is, “We should not
judge people.” What does it mean to
judge another? In what way are we not
to judge, and is there an appropriate way to judge others? I am sure this blog will get a lot of
discussion. Please email me your
thoughts at davidholt08@gmail.com.
Just this morning in my quiet time, I read the following passage:
“Do not judge by appearances, but judge
with right judgment” (Jn. 7:24). As
always, Jesus gives the perfect balance on a controversial topic: do not judge in one sense, but do judge in
the proper sense.
How are we not to judge another? Improper judgment is assuming something
negative about another when I don’t know for a fact it is true. For example, if I say that someone leads
worship on Sunday because they want to be seen as super-spiritual, that is
wrongly judging them because I do not know their true motive. Or if I see someone who is full of tattoos and
conclude that he/she is rebellious, that is equally wrong. I do not know their
true reason for getting tattoos.
On the other hand, Jesus tells us to “judge with right
judgment.” What does it mean to properly
“judge” another? As Christians we are to
be like Jesus, and Jesus called out sin and confronted sin, but He always did
so in love and with the offer of forgiveness to those who repent. Therefore, if I say that someone who is having
premarital sex, looking at porn or having an affair is living in sin and needs
to repent, that is not judging improperly, but rather “judging with right
judgment.” Make sense? I am seeing behavior and reaching a
conclusion about the person that is accurate based on the truth of God’s
Word. We are to judge in this sense. And we are to do so in love, always offering
the hope of forgiveness in Christ. If a
person doesn’t see their sin, then they will never see their need for Christ.
Applying this principle can feel like walking a tight rope
in our conflicted culture. So how do we
do this? Only with the wisdom of God in
the power of the Holy Spirit. Once
again, we have to walk close with God to pull this off! Enjoy the journey.
