Maxwell,
I hate doing this myself, but I understand right from wrong etc...It just bugs me, why should we judge a person, when I always remember that particular verse? I looked up a verse, but I didn't get the verse I was looking for, but here is the verse, and a passage Matthew 7:1 NIT "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." Then if you follow that, it will show a passage Matthew 7:1-6 "We must judge ourselves, and judge of our own acts, but not make our word a law to everbody. We must not judge rashly, nor pass judgement upon our brother without any ground. WE must not make the worst of people. Here is a just reproof to those who quarrel with their brethren for small faults, while they allow themselves in greater ones. Some sins are as motes, while others are as beams; some as a gnat, others as a camel. Not that there is any sin little; if it be a mote or a splinter, it is in the eye; if a gnat, it is in the throat; both are painful and dangerous, and we cannot be easy or well till they are got out. That which charity teaches us to call but a splinter in our brother's eyes, true repentance and godly sorrow will leach us to call a beam in our own. It is as strange that a man can be in a sinful, miserable condition, and not be aware of it, as that a man should have a beam in his eye and not consider it; but the god of this world blinds their minds. Here is a good rule for reprovers, first reform thyself. " I always look for the simpler part of this verse. though.
1. First of all, it looks like you haven't made many posts on CC yet... well PLEASE DO.
: )
Please jump into conversations, and chat, and enjoy the forums.
2. I think when we talk about "judging" we're often just having a semantic argument.
We're using the same word different ways, and we're "talking past" each other.
We can use the word "judge" to mean different things.
A.) We can use "judge" to mean discern. That just means to understand,
as in to discern right from wrong.
B.) We can also use "judge" to mean to "dole out punishment".
3. "Judgement" in the sense of "punishment" is something to strictly be left to God.
Well, it should be left to God and to civil authorities.
Handing out punishment is not something we're supposed to do.
4. "Judgement" in the sense of "discernment" ( understanding right from wrong)
is something we are ALWAYS to do.
5. So, we ARE to discern all things for their rightness or wrongness,
but we are NOT to pass out punishment on people for their wrongness,
that is for God and the civil authorities.
6. Usually, among lost people, this verse about "judging" is misquoted,
and used as an EXCUSE FOR THEIR SIN.
They use the definition of "judge" that means "discern",
and then misapply that verse to themselves.
Their point is to imply this:
"You are not supposed to discern right or wrong regarding others,
so LEAVE ME ALONE... nobody knows if my sin is really sin but me;
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MENTION IT."
This of course is a misapplication, but one which suits the lost world.
For most lost people, this is the ONLY verse they know.
They only know one verse... the verse they "think" means
YOU AREN'T ALLOWED TO MENTION MY SIN!
We are, OF COURSE, supposed to discern right and wrong in ALL THINGS,
including in others. We MUST discern right and wrong in others,
how else can we avoid doing the wrong things they may be doing?
So, we ARE to discern right and wrong in others.
However, it IS NOT ALWAYS APPROPRIATE TO OPEN OUR BIG FAT MOUTHS.
: )
Just because we discern, does not mean we should always speak!
Sometimes the proper thing is to watch, discern, and keep your mouth shut.
Sometimes the proper thing is to watch, discern, and discuss the sin very gently.
Sometimes the proper thing is to watch, discern, and wait for THEM to mention their sin.
There is a time and place for all things.
The matter of "what to say", and "when to say it" leads to the next set of points.
6. There are other issues with judging beside semantics:
we must consider the moral state of the one judging,
and we must consider issues of wisdom like kindness, empathy, and timing.
7. First all of, lets look at the passage in Matthew 7.
It doesn't say "Don't judge", it says, "Judge not that ye be not judged."
What is the difference?
This passage never says not to judge, it says that if you judge,
you will be judged (evaluated) for the SAME THING.
You will MEASURED BY GOD to see if you are committing the same sin,
and thus committing HYPOCRISY.
This passage is NOT teaching to NOT JUDGE,
this passage is teaching to NOT BE A HYPOCRITE.
Have you ever seen a child get spanked for swearing,
only to hear the parent swearing at the child 5 seconds later?
That is hypocritical judgement.
The funny thing is, dirty language is still a sin,
and the kid STILL needs to stop the sinful behavior.
However, the father didn't JUST reprimand the child for sin,
the father added HIS OWN SIN to the mix,
by committing the sin of hypocrisy.
The hypocrisy didn't make the sin of swearing disappear.
The hypocrisy just added a NEW sin to the mix,
and made the father guilty of hypocrisy.
This chapter in Matthew doesn't mean we should NEVER JUDGE.
If it meant that, then you could never reprimand the child for swearing.
Rather, it means that when you reprimand the child for swearing,
that you should NEVER ALSO SWEAR, and commit the sin of HYPOCRISY.
The fact this is talking not about judging, but about hypocrisy,
is further shown in Matthew 7:5 ... where it ACTUALLY USES THE WORD HYPOCRITE!
Mat 7:5
Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
It actually uses the word hypocrite, so we are CLEARLY talking about the sin of hypocrisy.
Furthermore, it doesn't say the "judging person" should cast the beam out of his own eye and then he's done.
It says he should cast the beam out of his own eye, and THEN PROCEED to cast the mote out of his brother's eye.
The mote and the beam both represent sins.
It doesn't say we are to neglect the sin of a brother,
but rather that we are to deal with our own sin FIRST.
Now, that sort of "implies" something that leads to our next point.
IF you deal with your own sin first, that tends you humble you,
and bring you down to earth.
This humbles you and gives you some EMPATHY,
so you can deal with your brother's sin in a LOVING WAY.
Remember, it doesn't say to ignore the sin of your brother.
It says to fix yourself first; get right with God,
deal with your OWN sin, and then approach your brother with compassion.
8. The last point is about acting with compassion and empathy.
Milothebird,
I don't think we need to discuss this point at all.
There are lots of verses about this,
but I think THIS is the whole reason you created this thread.
I think you already have a deep understanding of compassion and empathy.
I don't think we need to discuss this at all.
: )
9. Conclusion.
Most of the problems about judging are matters of semantics.
"Judge" can be used with different meanings.
"Judge" can simply mean to "discern", and in this sense of the word,
we ARE to judge all things.
We must ALWAYS discern right from wrong, even in others.
We are NEVER to "not judge" (not discern),
but rather we are to "not judge hypocritically".
Before thinking about "discernment" of a brother's sin,
we must FIRST deal with our own hypocrisy,
if we struggle with that same sin.
When we have dealt with our own sin,
then we are naturally humbled,
and we then have the empathy to deal with our brother's sin in a compassionate way.
We must JUDGE ALL THINGS, in the sense we DISCERN ALL THINGS.
We must.
But when dealing with sins of others, we must deal with our own sin FIRST,
and then handle others with empathy and compassion.
We ARE to judge in the appropriate ways.
John 7:24
Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
1Corinthians 6:3
Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
1Corithians 10:15
I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
1Corinthians 6:2
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 
