Does scripture actually tell us that we are not allowed to judge between right and wrong, good and bad, or truth and error? If it does, how are we to obey God’s commands to uphold the truth and stand against wickedness while keeping judgmental attitudes in balance? In order to find out the answers to these questions we must carefully consider the Lord’s words.
In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (1-2).
By carefully studying Christ’s words we see that He does not prohibit us from judging but instead issues a very strong warning that we will be judged according to the standard we choose. In other words, if one is teaching in error but yet insists on finger pointing at another errant teacher there’s a problem. Likewise, if we judge another when we are committing the same or an equally grave sin, whether openly or in secret, there’s a problem. It becomes a problem because we become a witness against ourselves by committing the same acts.
Those bent on cowering away from a full commitment unto God or those who have something to hide will say that we have no right to judge another’s heart or intentions, but this too is contrary to Christ’s teachings: “Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies” (Matthew 15:18-19).
So we see through Christ’s words that we are to question or judge another’s actions and words according to truth. For if we are not permitted to judge it becomes virtually impossible to distinguish between right and wrong. So going against what can be deemed as popular opinion (because no one wants to hear the truth anymore) scripture does in fact command us to judge.
“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:14, 21, 22).
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
“Brethren, if anyone among you wonders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). So how are we to accomplish these commands if we cannot judge?
Whether or not one wants to believe it, testing is judging between right and wrong. But unfortunately Satan has successfully removed the ability of many professing Christians to measure truth because he has convinced them that it is wrong to judge. Again it is not judging that is wrong it is the standard by which one judges and the motives behind their judgment that can be wrong.
There is a standard for judging correctly and Christ Himself has given it to us: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). And, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
So judgment is not to be according to appearance or personal preference but according to God’s own righteous standard, which is revealed in His word. It is God’s Word that judges between what is right and wrong. We are merely to test all things by evaluating it against that measure. It is the only true measure since God doesn’t change; His word doesn’t change. “Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Therefore anything that disagrees with Gods unchanging word is not true.
Now according to scripture we can only practice righteous discernment if we are in love with God. If Christ Jesus is at the center of our heart and we keep His word. “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear in not mine but the Father’s who sent me” (John 14:23-24).
We may not be able to judge the finality of someone’s salvation, but we can clearly discern whether or not they are abiding in a true relationship with Christ based upon whether or not one is obedient to Christ’ commands. In other words, in today’s world many may claim they love God but it is impossible to love God while aligning ones self against His words, against truth. Some of you may still call this being judgmental but we see that Christ Jesus plainly stated it as truth. Furthermore, only those that profess Christianity but live substandard Christian lives are offended when confronted with the truth. Truth hurts and no one wants to deal with it. One must deal with it here in this lifetime or deal with it in the life to come. But in the life to come it will be too late and the consequences of dealing with it will be more than one can bear.
In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (1-2).
By carefully studying Christ’s words we see that He does not prohibit us from judging but instead issues a very strong warning that we will be judged according to the standard we choose. In other words, if one is teaching in error but yet insists on finger pointing at another errant teacher there’s a problem. Likewise, if we judge another when we are committing the same or an equally grave sin, whether openly or in secret, there’s a problem. It becomes a problem because we become a witness against ourselves by committing the same acts.
Those bent on cowering away from a full commitment unto God or those who have something to hide will say that we have no right to judge another’s heart or intentions, but this too is contrary to Christ’s teachings: “Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies” (Matthew 15:18-19).
So we see through Christ’s words that we are to question or judge another’s actions and words according to truth. For if we are not permitted to judge it becomes virtually impossible to distinguish between right and wrong. So going against what can be deemed as popular opinion (because no one wants to hear the truth anymore) scripture does in fact command us to judge.
“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:14, 21, 22).
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).
“Brethren, if anyone among you wonders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). So how are we to accomplish these commands if we cannot judge?
Whether or not one wants to believe it, testing is judging between right and wrong. But unfortunately Satan has successfully removed the ability of many professing Christians to measure truth because he has convinced them that it is wrong to judge. Again it is not judging that is wrong it is the standard by which one judges and the motives behind their judgment that can be wrong.
There is a standard for judging correctly and Christ Himself has given it to us: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). And, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
So judgment is not to be according to appearance or personal preference but according to God’s own righteous standard, which is revealed in His word. It is God’s Word that judges between what is right and wrong. We are merely to test all things by evaluating it against that measure. It is the only true measure since God doesn’t change; His word doesn’t change. “Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Therefore anything that disagrees with Gods unchanging word is not true.
Now according to scripture we can only practice righteous discernment if we are in love with God. If Christ Jesus is at the center of our heart and we keep His word. “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear in not mine but the Father’s who sent me” (John 14:23-24).
We may not be able to judge the finality of someone’s salvation, but we can clearly discern whether or not they are abiding in a true relationship with Christ based upon whether or not one is obedient to Christ’ commands. In other words, in today’s world many may claim they love God but it is impossible to love God while aligning ones self against His words, against truth. Some of you may still call this being judgmental but we see that Christ Jesus plainly stated it as truth. Furthermore, only those that profess Christianity but live substandard Christian lives are offended when confronted with the truth. Truth hurts and no one wants to deal with it. One must deal with it here in this lifetime or deal with it in the life to come. But in the life to come it will be too late and the consequences of dealing with it will be more than one can bear.
