We live in a non-judgemental society where any type of behaviour can be defended as personal choice and any criticism is denounced as hurtful. When Christians point out the harm of an aspect of behaviour, particularly of sexual morality, we are often met with the response, ‘You shouldn’t judge.’ We can even be chided with the assertion that, ‘It isn’t very Christian to go around judging people,’ or be told that ‘It’s not very loving to criticise.’
Even the most convinced unbeliever seems to be aware of at least one Bible verse: Matthew 7:1 – “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” This is often played as a trump card to silence any Christian who attempts to say that something is wrong or immoral. After all, isn’t this an instruction from our Lord himself?
Judging is natural
Whenever someone makes an objection to any aspect of biblical teaching we can be sure that there is an error in reasoning somewhere; the ‘don’t judge’ argument is a prime example of illogicality. To even tell someone they shouldn’t judge is to judge that they are judging, which is considered judgmental, which requires making a judgment about all the judging that is going on!
It would be beyond illogical, and sometimes unsafe, to not judge.
Saying ‘Don’t judge’ is plain irresponsible and doesn’t work in the real world. It would be beyond illogical, and sometimes unsafe, to not judge. Every single day we make judgements of many kinds, some simple, others important. When going to the supermarket we have to choose between 27 different types of bread (I counted); we review them and make a judgement as to which suits our needs at that time. Occasionally we have to make more important judgements. Recently, when a man claiming to be a plain-clothes policeman called at my home so that I could make a witness statement, I didn’t accept his statement about who he was, but instead asked to see his warrant card before allowing him in. I rightly made a judgement concerning his claim to be a policeman.
Understanding the context
When scoffers wrench a single text out of Scripture in order to make a point, they forget that context is king. ‘Don’t judge’ is unbiblical. Matthew 7:1 only works as a conversation stopper if we delete the next six verses of Scripture. It is clear that, instead of totally forbidding us to judge, Jesus is instructing us on how to make a righteous judgement. He tells us that when we make a judgement on any behaviour we should first think about our own behaviour and avoid being hypocritical, “First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” And, if we are to help someone take the speck out of their eye – and our judgements should always be in the context of helping – we must first of all judge that the speck is actually there.
We need to judge
Looking elsewhere in the Bible, we see the importance of making right judgments. Later in Matthew 7:15,16 Jesus requires us to recognise wolves in sheep’s clothing – or false prophets – by their fruit. Again, this requires us to judge whether or not these teachers are speaking truth or giving a message of their own invention. In John 7:24, Jesus instructs us to “Stop judging by mere appearances and make a righteous judgment.” The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:12f requires us to judge other believers. He writes, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside.”
Scripture actually commands us to judge, but to make righteous judgements, humbly, and without hypocrisy.
Telling someone they shouldn’t judge is not biblical. In truth Scripture actually commands us to judge, but to make righteous judgements, humbly, and without hypocrisy.
Showing love with right judgement
Making judgements on the behaviour of others, if done properly and gently, can be the loving thing to do. Refusing to judge can do harm to someone who is doing wrong or in a wrong relationship, whilst making a judgement on another’s behaviour can be the loving, Christian, thing to do. We all make judgements on the behaviour of our children. Should we refuse to make a judgement on their behaviour when we see them doing wrong, or should we intervene? If we are loving parents, we will correct them. Why? Not because we have a judgemental attitude and want to crush them, but because we care for them and wish the best for their lives.
According to the Bible, love is patient and kind. It’s not arrogant or rude. 1 Corinthians 13:6 tells us that “love does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth.” For those of us who are parents, we cannot rejoice at our children’s wrongdoing. If we simply ignored the ‘speck’ in their eye and choose not to judge we could be shaping the rest of their lives in a harmful way. Judging with right judgment is not only logical and biblical, but it’s also the most loving thing you can do.
Judging criticisms
When we encounter an argument against, or criticism of, biblical teaching we should look for the errors in reasoning and the illogicalities; when Scripture is quoted we should examine the context and not just the quote; and we should look at the consequences of ignoring the biblical teaching.
The Rev. Dr. Campbell Campbell-Jack is a retired Church of Scotland minister and regular contributor to TCW (The Conservative Woman)