Friday Night Message: To Judge, Or Not To Judge?

Mar. 10, 2023

Good evening brethren, 

The word “judgment” is multi-faceted.  Although it is a single word, it can have many shades or colors of meanings, each important and significant in its own right.  

In this series of Friday Night Messages, let’s look more closely at this word “judgment”, to see if we can come to more clearly understand what it means for us as Christians. 

Is judgment something that we are to have and to grow in, or is it something that we are to avoid altogether and eliminate from our lives?  Or could it be both, depending upon the multiple meanings and nuances of this word “judgment”.

This series of messages is named “To Judge, Or Not To Judge?”

Let me start by saying that this is not a simple subject.  For the purpose of this series, I would like to give two very broad categories or types of judgment – condemnation, and discernment: 

• Under the general heading of condemnation go such meanings as harsh criticism, sentencing, passing judgment, censure, and the like.  

Matt. 7:1-2 – Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

• Under the general heading of discernment go such things as distinguishing right from wrong, having understanding or good sense, the ability to compare and decide.

Heb. 5:14 - …solid food belongs to those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Let’s first look at condemnation.  In this kind of judgment, the emphasis and focus is on the person (not an incident), on the inner heart and motives (not just the outward actions or behavior), and on their destiny or ultimate fate (not just present consequences).

So then let’s ask: “Why is it wrong for us to judge others in this way?”  Why should it be avoided?

1. It’s not our job.

According to the Apostle Paul, we will all stand before God and Jesus Christ, not each other.

Rom. 14:4, 12 – Who are you to judge another’s servant?  To his own master he stands or falls.  Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand… So then, each of us shall give account of himself to God.

Dietrich von Hildebrand, in his work entitled True Morality and Its Counterfeits (1955), states that “To judge means to pronounce the verdict in regard to a person…to anticipate, as it were, the punishment that the sinner deserves from God.  This is precisely what the self-righteous man does, and what the true Christian always avoids doing”.

Now let us consider these two types of judgment, from a Biblical perspective.

Have a joyful Sabbath,

Fred