I’ve finally figured out the three types of Christians who tick me off when they fling the “Oh, but you shouldn’t judge” line in my direction.
Here are my top three chart-toppers:
- Deluded people who actually believe they are non-judgmental, thus placing themselves in the “better Christian” category.
- Biblically illiterate people.
- Hypocritical people who are living double lives and don’t want their own skewed choices exposed.
And what they clamorously espouse is both pathetic and dangerous for the perilous times we are living in.
Dangerous, because while the rest of the world is busy judging the carnality in the Church, we are busy refraining from any form of judgment on ourselves—thus diluting our mandate to be salt and light, and a force for good in this desperately dark world.
So, let’s dive in and see what Scripture has to say.
Let’s begin with a word from the apostle Paul:
“For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?” (1 Corinthians 5:12)
In Matthew (chapters 5–7), when Jesus was establishing what can be loosely described as Christianity’s Constitution—that is, laying down the foundational, guiding principles of the Kingdom of God and the ethos by which we are called to live—He was also simultaneously upturning and upgrading the prevailing cultural and religious norms under the Law of Moses.
“You have heard that it was said… but I tell you…” was His constant and common refrain.
Upturning and upgrading.
From matters of murder, adultery, divorce, revenge, and loving one’s enemies, to giving, praying, fasting, serving, and not worrying—Jesus established and emphasized that the condition of the heart was more important to Him than the mere doing of religious rituals.
Which is why, when He finally addressed our natural human tendency to be judgmental in Matthew 7, He immediately juxtaposed it with the dust-speck and wood-plank metaphor:
“Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5)
Paul reiterates:
“For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.” (1 Corinthians 11:31)
And John commands:
“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:24)
So what does Jesus really mean when He says:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”?
I believe He is simply reinforcing the principle of sowing and reaping in Galatians 6:7: “What you sow, you will definitely reap—and in like measure as well.”
Unfortunately, the narrow, religious, and frankly manipulative dictum of “Don’t judge” (usually paired with “Don’t touch the Lord’s anointed”) has ended up being a root cause of many of the embarrassingly shameful and grievous exposés in the Church today.
Since discernment usually precedes judgment, the abject lack of both practices in the Body of Christ has weakened us and left us vulnerable to vicious attacks and the wiles of the devil.
If only we would hearken to Paul’s prayer for the Philippians:
“And this I pray: that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent…” (Philippians 1:9–10)
Discernment and righteous judgment are needed in ever-increasing measures—but the process must always be saturated in love.
If agape and phileo love are absent, then we are merely emulating the Accuser of the brethren.
You are certainly not loving your fornicating friend by ignoring his sinful lifestyle and allowing him to waltz his way to hell.
You are certainly NOT loving the new convert if you don’t teach him how much God hates idolatry—and thus he must part ways with his demonic jewellery.
You are certainly NOT loving the Bride of Christ by keeping silent about spiritual abuse in the Church.
Righteous judgment is always redemptive.
It is not condemnatory, but always seeks to build up and not tear down.
Righteous judgment stems from a deep and jealous longing for God’s glory to be magnified in His people and His Church.
God Himself is a Righteous Judge. How then do we give ourselves a pass not to emulate Him?
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face.” (Psalm 89:14)
The Righteous Judge calls us to righteous judgment—not to condemn, but to restore; not to tear down, but to build up.
The question is: will we rise to this call, or continue hiding behind a false idea of “non-judgment” while the world—and the Church—suffer for it?
