It is fairly common for some to pull the “thou shall not judge” card when wrong actions are duly addressed. By taking this route, they attempt to erroneously use the Bible to silence everyone who calls evil “evil”. But the problem is that you will also have to judge that someone is being judgemental in order for you to call them judgemental. By so doing, you end up committing the same “crime” you accuse others of doing.
Contrary to the popular belief that we are not supposed to judge, the Bible in several places praises those who have the ability to exercise judgement. In 1 Corinthians 2:15, The Bible teaches that “But he who is spiritual judges all things, but he himself is judged by no one”. Therefore, your inability to judge what is wrong as wrong may not be because you are humble, but only because you are not spiritual enough. Similarly, in Galatians 6:1, we are told that “Brethren, 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”. In order for you to come to the conclusion that someone is overtaken in a fault, you have to be able to judge that they are indeed in error. It is the spiritual who are able to do this in addition to restoring the one who has erred. Hebrews 5:14 also says “But solid food is for the mature, the ones by constant use having trained the senses for distinguishing both good and evil”. Distinguishing between good and evil is to judge one as good and the other as evil. According to Hebrews, it is the mature who are able to do this, and they are the ones who can partake of the deep things of God. In these last days when deception and many false teachers and prophets abound, you will need this ability to judge which doctrine is true or false, and who among the many teachers and prophets is of God or not. This kind of judgement is also associated with wisdom (Proverbs 3:21-22; Proverbs 8:12).
Yet, we read in Luke 6:37 that “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven”. Does this sound like a contradiction to the Scriptures above? Certainly not if we understand the Scriptural context. Different Greek words are translated as judge in the English language. For example, in Luke 6:37, where we are told not to judge, the word translated “judge” is the Greek word “krino”, which means to distinguish but also implies to “condemn”. That same word is also translated as avenge or damn. Thus, the kind of judgement Jesus warns us against is distinguishing among people with a view to condemn, damn or be vengeful. No one is beyond the grace of God, and as Christians we are not called to act in the place of God by damning or being vengeful towards others. However, in 1 Corinthians 2:15, where those that are spiritual are characterized by their ability to judge, the word translated “judge” is the Greek word “anakrino”, which means to scrutinize, investigate, interrogate, or determine. It is also translated as discern, examine or search. Here, those that are spiritual are called upon to exercise this type of judging in order know those that are overtaken in error/fault with a view to restore them. Christians are also called upon to show this type of judgement to distinguish that which is holy from that which is profane, truth from deception, and true teachers/prophets from false ones. A similar Greek word with a similar definition is the Greek word “diakrino”, which means to separate thoroughly, and is also translated as discern. We see this in 1 Corinthians 11:31, where we are told that if we would judge (diakrino; be more discerning) ourselves, we will not be judged (krino; condemned or damned).
Therefore, we should not get into the habit of fighting everyone who exercises judgement. Neither should we wrongly use the Bible to discourage others from exercising proper judgement and discernment lest we keep ourselves and others from being spiritual, mature and growing in wisdom.
Dr. K. Omari
July 7, 2018.
A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me ([email protected]) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.