To Judge or Not to Judge

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How many times have you heard someone say we are not to judge others? How many take offense when they are told they are doing something wrong? How many times have you heard, "Even Jesus didn't come to judge us!" Yet, how can we stay away from what is wrong, if we don't "judge" it as being so? What do we do about this dilemma?

It's true that Jesus didn't come to this world to judge us. He came to preach the kingdom of God and to bear witness to the truth. But have no doubt ... Jesus will some day be our Judge. God is not only a God of grace and mercy, but He is a just God as well. He has committed all judgment unto Jesus Christ, and He has appointed a day for the judgment of the world to take place.

This task of judgment belongs to Jesus ... it does not belong to us. The Bible strongly warns us against indulging in judgment of others. Matthew, chapter 7, talks to us about removing the beam in our own eye before we consider the "mote" (speck) in our brother's eye. It warns us not to judge others, that we might not be judged. And if that's not enough, Romans 2: 1-3 warns us that we condemn ourselves when we judge others!

However, while judgment is forbidden in Scripture, admonishment and reproof are actually encouraged in the Word of God. We are urged in Colossians 3: 16 to "teach and admonish each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs..." And the Bible goes beyond just advising and encouraging us to admonish each other. It implies that admonishment and reproof are our duties. II Timothy 4: 2 tells us to "...reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." And Titus 2: 15 tells us to "speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority."

So, where do we draw the line? Judgment is forbidden, but admonishment, reproof and rebuke are encouraged, and even commanded. Perhaps a good way to begin looking at this issue is to remind ourselves just what the whole point of reproof is all about. What is its purpose? And what is reproof supposed to accomplish?

Judgment carries with it the element of finality. Reproof, and even rebuking someone, carry an element of learning, repentance from sin, and restoration to unity. Is our intention to teach another? Do we want to correct them so that they may be brought back into the way of righteousness? Even in our sharp rebuke, is the soundness of the person's faith our motive? Godly reproof will help someone recover themselves out of the snare of the devil. And this recovery always brings honor.

We need to be sure about our own motives before reproving another.

Those are my thoughts. What are yours?