Is It Against a Christian's Principles to Judge?

Judging others can potentially lead us down the wrong road, appearing like a “bible thumping”, twenty-first century Pharisee. But what does the good book say about judging others. Should Christians judge others: shockingly the answer is both yes and no. Boom-shocka-locka, you didn't expect that, did you?

Carefully dividing the word of God, you shouldn't be surprised by that answer. In an era where most people love to quote, “don't judge, or by that same measure you will be judged back”, other scriptures tell us to judge. So is the bible contradicting itself? Or, is it asking Christians to judge righteously, the fruits of another person who claims to be a believer?

No, the bible never contradicts itself. Today I will establish the fact that regarding open and blatant sin we are to judge those matters and call it what it is, but in humility because we could fall to the same temptation. Also I will be pointing out the other areas where the good book tells us we should not judge concerning disputable matters, heart issues, and the people of the world who are lost and without Christ.

Sin is to be judged-In Humility

When we read the bible in the context that it was written about judging, it is clearly established that we have to judge certain situations, but in a manner that is not critical, emotionally abusive nor to puff ourselves up. When it came to sin, the prophets, disciples and apostles were clear: Repent! And call on the name of the Lord and forsake your sinful ways. In the book of Acts the disciple Peter called the couple out for lying to God and their judgment was immediate death by the Holy Spirit.

In 1 Corinthians chapter five, the apostle Paul ask are we to judge those who are of the world, sinners? He explains that we are not, God will do that. We should not judge those who are of the world because all they know and can do, is sin. Even if they do good it is apart from Christ Jesus, to be exposed on judgment day as selfish and prideful acts.

But Paul does state in that chapter that we are to judge those who are apart of the church body and God. Jesus told us to be fruit inspectors looking for the evidence of other believer's lives and ours. Matter fact, if we see overt abuses, false teachers, obvious breaches of integrity we are to stand up and judge righteously those fruits of darkness, even handing the culprit over to Satan if they refuse to repent, boasting about their sins to others. If we, as Christians are worried about “getting involved”, losing popularity or our status, then we must serious examine ourselves to see if we are even of the faith. It is at these times where we must take a stand for holiness and righteousness. Boom-shocka-locka, that's right I said it.

Should Blaspheme Be Judged

For example is it ever ok to blaspheme the name of the Lord? No, but yet you can sit around any Christian conversations and even Pastors now a days, and hear the Lord's name being taken in vein. Common phrases are: “Oh my Lord”, “Oh my God”, “G.D.”, “Sweet Jesus” or “Jesus H. Christ”. I didn't even know Jesus had a middle name.

But serious, you can easily tell within the context of what they were saying, it had absolutely nothing to do with praying to him, acknowledging him in a reverent and honorable way or praising his name. This is just a flippant use of the highest name in the universe, as if it weren't the name above every name, the name that every knee will bow to and every tongue will confess.

I stopped getting hateful in my heart towards others when this happens, and started getting happy by putting on my famous Wal-Mart yellow sticker guy smile saying something like, “You believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior too, so do I! It's good to see I'm not the only one who loves God and can't wait to stand before him on judgment day to give an account.” You ought to see some of the looks I get, but it sure makes them think about what they are saying since they call themselves “believers”, when they know better than taking that name in vein. C'mon vein takers….you're betterthan that.

Is committing adultery ever ok, or murdering someone? No, of course not because the bible has set certain boundaries, and if we as Christians didn't speak out against blatant sin, more souls would be headed to Hell on a greasy pole then ever. But whenever we have to take a stand against sin we must always use godly discernment, wisdom and humility unless we fall to the same sin. Our goal in judging should be always to restore and build back up, seeing them the way God does, seated in heavenly places.

Critical and Hypocritical Judgment Never OK

Unfortunately, we see many Christians going around like they are the forth person of the trinity criticizing to tear people down and lord over. Only God knows what a person's heart is. There are many Christians who judge recklessly and hastily the matters of the heart like a blind doctor going into surgery. These so-called Christians use people like a bulldog at a fire hydrant.

They have no intentions to encourage, or build up, but only to puff themselves up in their own minds because secretly they themselves are doing the same thing behind closed doors. They are like the Pharisees, white washed coffins full of dead mans bones. If you are judging others in this frame of mind, the words of Jesus will tear your soul to ribbons, where he talks about the same measure you judge it will be measured back. He also expresses for us to stop being hypocrites and live righteously.

C'mon on Pharisees out there…you're better than that!

And concerning disputable matters like food, alcohol, dancing, stronger brothers should not judge the weaker brothers in the faith and vice-versa, but careful not to be stumbling blocks to the weaker brother in the faith.

One book talks about how we don't have the latitude to judge matters of the conscious or heart and other disputable matters that the bible is vague or silent on.

We must always remember to judge by God's fair standards in matters of blatent and overt sin with humility in mind. Other times we must not judge, especially when we don't know the heart or the details and there is room for latitude. Whenever we must take a stand against sin, let us speak out in all reverence and honor to the Lord, remembering that we must restore and build up the people of God, not destroy them.