Are Christians NEVER suppose to judge?

Are Christians NEVER Suppose to Judge?

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ²For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Matthew 7:1-2

I have seen some of the harshest statements of judgment made by the very people who are called to be the most compassionate.  In my third year of college I was working with a teenager who was struggling with an addiction.  We went together to talk to a local minister who in a matter of minutes proceeded crush the spirit of this teen by letting him know that unless he stopped, he stood condemned because God had already rejected him.   I was shocked.  How could he judge this person so harshly?  It lead me to ask, How do I live out my belief and convictions in a way that helps to bring life-changing hope to people instead of condemning judgment?

How did Jesus “judge”, confronting the behaviors of those around him?

Let me take the example of the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8:1-11).  What she was doing went against both God’s and the community standards. The religious leaders came forward with the consequences for this woman.  Here is the judgment:  she must die by stoning her.  They turned to Jesus, hoping they would trap him in a no win situation. If he said she didn’t do anything wrong, then he would not be a person who had the standards to act justly. If he condemned her, then the crowd would see him as merciless.  What did he do? First of all – he agreed with them.  There were God given moral standards that he lived by.  This was one of them.  She did deserve the punishment, but he took gave us an example of how we judge without condemning.  1) He reminded us that we all fail… “he who is without sin, cast the first stone”.  2) He extended grace and forgiveness… “neither do I condemn you”

3) He showed her the better way… “Go now and leave your life of sin”

He didn’t say, “I’m personally uncomfortable with it, but if it works for you, then that’s okay.”  He called it what it was, SIN!  BUT he confronted with the outpouring of compassion towards himself, the one who offered hope and grace, NOT  condemnation!  John 3:17, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

This is where so many Christians get it wrong.  The best course of action is to NOT stop assessing out immoral, hurtful behavior – judging what is right and wrong according to God’s standards, but to do it with the compassion of Jesus.

Let me give you three keys to make this a reality based on what Jesus did in Matthew 7:1-6.

“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

KEY #1: The same standard you use to judge others will be the same one God will use for you.

“And why do you look at the speck in your brothers eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, Let me remove the speck out of your eye; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brothers eye.”
KEY#2: Deal with your own sin first before tackling someone else’s.

⁶“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

KEY #3: Don’t give out your insights to those who aren’t ready to hear.

Proverbs 9:8 “Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.”

Ironically the NT is pretty silent when it comes to harsh judgments and condemnation of the Roman Government and it’s leaders.  While it does speak of societal decadence in general, it usually does so in the context of reminding those who were followers of Jesus that they were to no longer live that way.  The reason was simple.  The early church understood their job was not to condemn those around them.  Their role was to compassionately confront by showing others a better way… the best way.