Do Not Judge?

By Sebastian R. Fama

Whenever there is a discussion on the morality or immorality of an act, someone will invariably say: “We shouldn’t judge.” This, we are told, is based on Jesus own words:

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (Matthew 7:1).

In this passage Jesus is not telling us not to judge; he is telling us not to judge harshly and hypocritically. We are also warned against judging others on trivial matters (Romans 14:1-13). But elsewhere in Scripture, we are told to judge. Paul as a Church leader judges actions:

But you yourselves wrong and defraud, and that even your own brethren. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor the idolaters, nor the adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:8-10).

We, as believers, are also to judge actions:

As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear (1 Timothy 5:20).

As for a man who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him (Titus 3:10).

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness (Galatians 6:1).

But we are never to judge a person’s culpability before God as He and He alone is the ultimate judge:

Therefore, do not pronounce judgement before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every man will receive his commendation from God (1 Corinthians 4:5).

Bottom line; we are called to judge actions but not hearts. And if we never did that, we would not survive as a society. No judgement would mean that murderers, rapists, and other criminals would never be prosecuted or jailed. After all, if you cannot judge others, you cannot prosecute them.