Are we allowed to judge others?

[superdave5221]

I have often seen in the chat and other places where someone was accused of judging others and was condemned for it. In Matthew chapter 7:1-2, Jesus says "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". In James 4:11-12, James says, "Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy". But do we not have the responsibility to judge who we are to associate with and do business with? Do we not have the responsibility to decide which behaviors we will emulate and which ones we will abhor? Jude and other biblical writers spoke harshly of false teachers. Paul called Elymas "a child of the devil" (Acts 13:10). Even James himself called his readers adultresses and enemies of God (James 4:4). Were these Biblical writers judging? I think so. I think judging is Ok if it is done with the right attitude. If we judge with love, and with the hope that the person will receive the wisdom of God towards repentence, while recognizing our own inadequacies and need for repentence as well then we will be OK. Also we should judge not on outward appearances, but on the persons heart and character. We should never gossip about or slander another person, but deal with them as a father or mother, or brother or sister, (See 1 Tim 5:1-2). Finally, judging someone is not the same as forming an opinion. We live in a world where we have to assess information about our surroundings and other people in order to know how to react in meaningful and hopefully positive ways.

 

[watchmen]

Yes Super Dave we are not to judge one by appearance, nor are we to gossip, or slander, but as you said it is our responsibility to judged those with in the church by the fruits they produce.
Matthew 7
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

1st Corinthians 5
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.


We are not to judge those that are without the Church because they do not even claim Christ, but those that are within we need to judge, admonish, correct, rebuke, and reprove.
2nd Thessalonians 3
14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

2nd Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

 

[Graybeard]

Tend to agree with watchman

Joh 12:47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
Joh 12:48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him— the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

 

[Thaddaeus]

I think the sentencing part of judgement is what this verse refers to as; least ye be judged by the same condemnation, but we have to know what is good and evil. right and wrong so we can judge the sin or the action of a person but not the person themselves.
Ga 6:1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

 

[Jezreel]

Gossip and slander is a sin that should be dealt with. You have to take a witness and if they do not hear you, take two or three witnesses and if they still do not hear the church, let them be like a heathen or a publican. Judgement start first at the house of God and at us. We are to judge matters in the church, outside the church, we leave alone.
Also, those who have the gift of discernment are often accused of being judgemental. That is because they may have made a mistake of not going to the one overtaken in the fault first. If we have the gift of discernment, we are to go to that person privately and restore him in a spirit of meekness, not tell others unless that person will not hear you, you get a couple others who are aware, otherwise, it becomes gossip and talebearing which is a horrible sin that most pastors and members of the body overlook and allow to operate. It should be corrected immediately. It causes grief and suffering to those who are innocent. That kind of wisdom descends from below and is earthly sensual and devilish. When envy and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. The wisdom that come from above is without "partiality" and filled with goodness.

 

[tryingtofindhim]

I have often seen in the chat and other places where someone was accused of judging others and was condemned for it. In Matthew chapter 7:1-2, Jesus says "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". In James 4:11-12, James says, "Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy". But do we not have the responsibility to judge who we are to associate with and do business with? Do we not have the responsibility to decide which behaviors we will emulate and which ones we will abhor? Jude and other biblical writers spoke harshly of false teachers. Paul called Elymas "a child of the devil" (Acts 13:10). Even James himself called his readers adultresses and enemies of God (James 4:4). Were these Biblical writers judging? I think so. I think judging is Ok if it is done with the right attitude. If we judge with love, and with the hope that the person will receive the wisdom of God towards repentence, while recognizing our own inadequacies and need for repentence as well then we will be OK. Also we should judge not on outward appearances, but on the persons heart and character. We should never gossip about or slander another person, but deal with them as a father or mother, or brother or sister, (See 1 Tim 5:1-2). Finally, judging someone is not the same as forming an opinion. We live in a world where we have to assess information about our surroundings and other people in order to know how to react in meaningful and hopefully positive ways.

I understand what you are saying I would say if you are a mature Christian you could do it. I wouldn't just because i'm not a mature Christian and I always feel hypocritical if I were to correct anyone.

 

[pickles]

My understanding is that we may judge the action but not the heart. Judgement of the heart is the Lords. God bless, pickles

 

[logos83]

"For he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man." I Corinthians 2:15

A man filled with God's Holy Spirit will judge anything which causes other to stumbe.
"Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. " Romans 14:13
If one comes and preaches a doctrine such as there are many ways to heaven, this must be judged because it will cause discord, (Proverbs 6:19) along with leading many astray. This is why the gifts of the spirit include "discerning of the spirits" (I Corinthians 12:10). John the Apostle tells us to "try the spirits" (I John 4:1-3), would not this be another way of saying judge the spirits. Paul also told the Church at Corinth "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge." (I Corinthians 14:29). Yes I believe we has believers in Christ, should, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righeous judgment." (John 7:24). Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we do this (John 16:7-11; 14:26; I John 2:20, 27).

Remember always the Holy Spirit will do this in a loving manner. " And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Romans 5:5

 

[MahogonySnail]

Yes we can judge others. We're not living in a hippie group community in the 70's wearing rose coloured glasses and ignorant to the sins and false doctrines of others - although many in the "don't judge me" group thinks Christianity to be just like that.

 

[MahogonySnail]

Right is right and wrong is wrong , no matter how it is expressed. Judge between right and wrong, true and false, the safety of your own soul depends on it. The Lord is saying to judge righteous judgement:
Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

To judge righteous judgement I think means, judge according to the spirit of the Law, rather than the letter of the law. And don't judge another person for something that you yourself allow.

We're not to judge a person's heart. We're not to judge a person's motives or attitudes unless God reveals it to us. We're not to judge brethren on personal matters of faith such as keeping the Sabbath, eating meat etc. We're not to judge unbelievers for their sins, and that includes homosexuality and abortion as well.

If a Christian is sinning or in false doctrine it is our duty to warn them or correct them. That sort of judgement is perfectly OK. If a Christian says "you should worship God on a Saturday and not a Sunday", that sort of judgement is not OK.

That's my take on it anyway.

 

[Gabriel777]

1 Corinthians 2:15 "But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man."

MahoganySnail and logos83 pretty much nailed it.

 

[RoguePreacher]

The problem I see with Judging is pretty simple. When we judge others we judge them by their actions. This is good. When we Judge ourselves we judge by our intentions. This is corrupt thinking. I*f someone does evil go to them convict them of the evil they have commited. Bring other if they refuse to accept it and bring the church elders if they remain unrepentant. If they still refuse to repent then they are to be cast out.

When we judge ourselves its needs to still be based on our actions. Intentions could for nothing. I could intend to pay my rent but if I don't my landlord will judge me and evict me.

When we stand before God and have been fooling ourselves by judging our intentions we will get a big shock when God judges us by our actions. So by all means judge but judge rightly both without and within.