by Pastor Carey Clow

It's a well know fact that most people believe you shouldn't 'judge' others. With over 700 references to judging in the Bible - is this right?

This message details why - despite this common belief - we should 'judge' others, when and how. It also clearly defines what distinguishes judging (the rightness and wrongness of someones position) and condemning (them as a write-off). The former as you will see - is scriptural for all to practise - while the latter is held by God alone and not for us to dabble with.

Listen to this message via MP3. 48min, 5.4MB

Now I'm not claiming to be a great Greek scholar, not is this exhaustive - but I think it'll help.

There are three main meanings of the various Greek words used in regards to judge, judging, judgement, condemnation, damnation and their various English derivatives. These three main English equivalent meanings are:

1. Judgement - Being the final judgement - the end of time court room scene of God's ultimate authority. Many of the English words in the NIV for 'judgement' specifically refer to this final judgement as opposed to a soon or now judgement.
2. Condemn - Being to pronounce a judgement including punishment over someone as a final act. To write someone off for good etc. This English word again is tightly related to the 'Judgement' mentioned above - and related to this event as opposed to something happening around us now. An associate word is 'damn'.
3. Judge - This meaning to 'determine rightness' against some measure or law, reference, harm or good etc. This English word group, when used in the NIV unlike the other two, is almost strongly associated things here and now as well as final judgement.

Here are some examples of these word usages...

Judgement

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. - Matthew 5:21-22 NIV

But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you." - Matthew 11:22-24 NIV

Condemn

Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! - James 5:9 NIV

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 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, "If any one of you is without sin, let him 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." - John 8:2-11 NIV

But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. - Romans 14:23 NIV

Judge

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God "will give to each person according to what he has done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. - Romans 2:1-16 NIV

Judgement in the church

So this is where we start asking questions about what is right...  

Should we judge / make determinations?

Yes & No. And both has consequences.

We should not judge our brothers in the normality of life. (When there need be no dispute)

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. "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. - Matthew 7:1-6 NIV

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." - Luke 6:37-38 NIV

My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? - James 2:1-4 NIV

Jesus was quick to not judge the broken.

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. - Matthew 12:20 NIV

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." - John 8:10-11 NIV

Jesus was quick to judge those who stood against the poor and broken.

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice (judging/determining), mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. - Matthew 23:23 NIV

Who should judge (determine)

Everyone must give an account for the management of their own lives (and not necessarily others). We are all told to be wise and discerning. We are all told to base our lives on wisdom. Wisdom determines knowledge and creates correct actions. We make determinations. Foolishness is always spurned.

I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. - Romans 16:17 NIV

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. - 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV

"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. - Matthew 7:6 NIV

Many people are given responsibility for others peoples lives also. Leaders, Elders, Parents, Shepherd/Pastors

The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. - Psalm 37:30 NIV

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. - 1 John 4:1 NIV

And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. - Malachi 3:18 NIV

Few people are given responsibility over everyone's lives. Police, Magistrates, Ministers, Kings & Presidents.

Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph. - Amos 5:15 NIV

These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good: Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent"- peoples will curse him and nations denounce him. But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them. - Proverbs 24:23-25 NIV

Should we condemn (damn)?

NO. None of us are given final rights to write someone off permanently.

Judgement is to do with the determination between right and wrong - not to do with separating people from where they might find love and wholeness.

You judge by human standards; I pass judgment (condemn) on no one. But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. - John 8:15-16 NIV

Jesus doesn't condemn the present world, yet we live free from or under this through belief

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. - John 3:17-18 NIV

And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out-those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. - John 5:27-30 NIV

Some judgement simply won't be enacted till the final judgement.

When should we judge?

Between unremitting disputes. There is a place for judges who judge between disputes. But it is not a mechanism of personal preference.

"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court (judges seat). Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. - Matthew 5:25 NIV

If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another-and this in front of unbelievers! - 1 Corinthians 6:1-6 NIV

When overseeing an area we have legitimate responsibility for.

How should we judge

Judgement is to do with justice - not comfort.

Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment." - John 7:24 NIV

After we've judged ourselves first

A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions. - 1 Corinthians 11:28-34 NIV

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. - Matthew 7:5 NIV

Finally - the balance

The final thing to be careful to say is that the word weighs up two things:

1. The need to give justice to people against those who would harm them
2. And the need to not pass final judgement on anyone thus condemning them beyond help.

Thus judgement should be carefully considered with mercy closely attached.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. - Galatians 6:7 NIV

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For 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 NIV

Acknowledgements to James L. Melton for some of his thoughts. Refer to http://www.biblebelievers.com/jmelton/Judging.html