This is a generalized statement that is false, since there are cases where it is right to judge and others where it really is wrong. Another saying quite popular along this line of erroneous thinking is: “Let God do the Judging, we do the loving.” Other sources for this section include: The Cult of “Do Not Judge” .  Perhaps the best way to deal with this issue is to list the scriptural cases for good and bad judgment.

Right Judgment :

  • We are to use judgment when using common sense to understand things in our life. The following scripture is used in the context where Jesus is trying to convince the Pharisees that it is right to do good on the Sabbath day. Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. John 7:24 (KJV)
  • We are to exercise judgment to approve what is right. “9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;” Phil 1:9-10 (KJV)
  • We are responsible to exercise judgment to determine what is right. “56 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? 57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?” Luke 12:56-57 (KJV) “ I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.” 1 Cor 10:15 (KJV)
  • It is our Christian duty to maintain fellowship with the Father and the Son by regularly judging ourselves in the Light of the Word so that we can confess our sins to the Lord and be forgiven and healed. “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” 1 Cor 11:31 (KJV)
  • We have a responsibility to speak of the judgment that Christ died for everyone and that everyone needs to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ “14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Cor 5:14-15 (KJV)
  • We are to judge ourselves as sinners to qualify for salvation. Here Paul is rebuking the Jews for not believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” Acts 13:46 (KJV)
  • God has appointed men as authorities and judges to rule over men in governments and other types of offices as stated in detail in Romans 13.. “Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:” Acts 24:10 (KJV)
  • God has appointed the Church to use judgment in weeding out wicked, unrepentant people in the church when the matter becomes publicly known. “For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?” 1 Cor 5:12 (KJV)
  • God expects Christians to judge and resolve disputes between themselves instead of seeking outside courts to resolve them, knowing also that in the future the saints will actually be given the right to judge the fallen angels. “1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?” 1 Cor 6:1-5 (KJV)

Wrong Judgment

  • It is wrong to judge another person as if you are their judge. God is the Judge of all men inside and outside the church. “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matt 7:1-2 (KJV) “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: …” Luke 6:37 (KJV)
  • It is wrong to judge the faith life of fellow believers when it differs from our own in non-essential areas. “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.” Romans 14:13 (KJV)
  • It is wrong to judge ourselves as if self sits on the throne of our hearts. We cannot see clearly enough to judge ourselves in all areas. Where the scriptures are clear about things regarding judging oneself, adhere to them. Otherwise, do not be so swift to judge yourself by your own understanding. 1 Cor 4:3-5 (KJV):  “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. : “For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”
  •  We are not to judge people outside the church, since they are not under the Power of God to live a godly life, so they cannot be held accountable to us for living in the Power of the Holy Ghost. We can and should judge them in one way ? They need to believe in Jesus Christ. That is the only judgment we can put upon them. 1 Cor 5:12-13 (KJV): “For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth.”
  • We are not to speak evil of our fellow brethren since this is a form of forbidden judgment. James 4:11-12 (KJV):  “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?”