I have been a Christian for 21 years. I strayed from it when I was experiencing the world, and when I came back and began reading the Bible again, I became extremely judgmental. I felt as though I had religious superiority because I had a relationship with God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit.
Instead of looking at the soul of a person and attempting to understand why they decided to make the decisions that they chose, I vehemently rejected their behavior and made it known that they were a sinner and I was superior to them. Woe is me right?! Did I not read Judge not lest ye be judged, for with the same measure that you use it will be given back to you (Matthew 7:1-3)? Well, as someone with a plank in their eye, I assumed this was referring to the people I was judging and not myself. Clueless much?
Does the Bible call Christians to Render Judgment?
To answer this question in truth, we must first examine the definition of judgment. Referencing Merriam-Webster’s two critical definitions, judgment can be defined as the process of forming an opinion by comparing and contrasting as well as the final judging of humankind by God https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/judgment.
Based on the aforementioned definitions, we can conclude that there are 2 types of judgement. One is to compare and contrast based on what is right and what is wrong, and the other can only be given by God in that it is the final and true analysis of an individuals life. The first, is what Christians are called to do and the latter, only God can provide and is where we get the saying “Only God can judge me.”
How is a Christian called to judge?
The type that Christians should practice is one that is based on inward reflection, studying of the word, consultation with God, humility, and respect for the person whom we are observing.
There are explicit actions humans can partake in that the bible deems sinful. Some of those actions are the practice of sexual immorality, those who are deeply devoted and/or worship something other than God (i.e. money, celebrities, careers, etc.), adulterers, those who practice homosexuality, thieves, people who are greedy, drunkards, those who are verbally abusive, and those who gain money through fraud and deceit (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
In the Old Testament, sin also included those who sacrificed their children to gods, those who exercised their anger with no control, individuals who perverted justice by taking bribes to give false testimony, and those who would take advantage of widows and the fatherless. This is not the complete list of clearly explained sin in the Bible and it is necessary to read the Word for yourself to aid in self-examination as well as how to disciple others.
As we previously stated, Christians are to judge by comparing and contrasting based on what is right and what is wrong. There are a couple of verses in the Bible that talk about how the Law of God is written on the tablets of our hearts, an example is 2 Corinthians 3:3 CEV which reads:
But you are our letter, and you are in our hearts for everyone to read and understand. You are like a letter written by Christ and delivered by us. But you are not written with pen and ink or on tablets made of stone. You are written in our hearts by The Spirit of the Living God.
The Word of God is how we can compare what is right to what is wrong. I made mention of the previous verse because I have heard people say, “We don’t need the Bible to determine what is right, and what is wrong.” In this aspect, I slightly agree as the Bible itself tells us that the Spirit of God is written within us. Though this is the case, we still receive enlightenment through reading; whether that is the Bible, or another book and as Christians, we should thoroughly understand the faith we proclaim and not only take part in understanding on the Sabbath.
What we are called to do is not the same as what God will do. We don’t have a Heaven or a Hell to put anyone into, including ourselves, and we must understand that there is a judgment given by God, and calling out of wrong doing within ourselves and others, two very distinct and separate types of judgment.
When we are attempting to judge someone, let us all take a step back and remember who we were and what actions we practiced before God opened our eyes to Him. Let us also consider how many times we have fallen short of His glory after building a relationship with Him.
Lived experiences, the thoughts that are constantly flooding our minds, the joy and sorrow that come with life all play a role in emotions and the behaviors we choose to practice. Contemplate providing judgment with the concept of guidance instead of a finality and make sure the plank is out of your eye before attempting to remove the sawdust in another’s.
John 8:3 NIV
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
With Love,
Mother Ocia