Most of us have uttered the phrase, "Don't judge me!', whether spoken in jest or in anger. Possibly you've heard this expression in response to speaking with someone regarding their words, habits, conduct, or lifestyle. To my irritation, I've heard Christians say, "We shouldn't judge one another!". One of my pet peeves is when people who claim to be Christian, take God's Word out of context. Usually, it's because they haven't actually read the Word of God for themselves, but have based their "understanding" on the hearsay of others. It is misleading and may leave the hearer with a misconception of who Jesus really is and the reality of His Word.
We are currently in the midst of a subversive "cancel culture", that would want nothing more than to have an entire generation fall for the lie that there is no absolute truth. Their desire is to suppress, pervert and /or simply eradicate words or expressions that are contrary to their demonic belief system and then supplant them with their own verbiage. The premise is that everyone's opinion is valid unless of course it's coming from a conservative perspective or God forbid a biblical one! Opinions are like noses..everybody has one, so who determines which person's opinion has actual merit! This is ridiculous and utter nonsense! In their twisted mentality, it would become a sin to judge, although from their perspective anything goes! Sin, I would venture to guess would be nothing more than a social construct in their understanding. Such "tolerance" would be hazardous to us as individuals and as a society. Nothing could be called into question...nothing would be considered wrong. Truly, what we know to be "good" is increasingly being labeled as evil within our society.
Judging is the act. The very definition of judgment is the process of seeing, hearing, reading, sifting, calculating, reckoning, comparing, and evaluating evidence for reaching or determining an opinion or decision. Judgments are usually made on the basis of previously existing laws and/or principles. As human beings, we make judgments all the time as we compare costs, quality, ethics, morality, what is safe vs what is dangerous, etc. The very quality of our lives depends upon the quality of our judgments. A person who is so offended by this word should never go to a job interview, never compete in a sport, enter a beauty pageant, run for office, and please don't do anything that would place you in a court of law. I could be wrong, but I don't believe you can tell the judge before the rendering of a verdict, "Don't Judge Me!”Yes, I am being a little facetious, but it's the truth. If you tell me not to judge, you are telling me that I am in error, therefore, you are in-fact judging! It's called life!
There are usually two sides to any subject matter, and the same is so concerning the topic of judging. Some people enjoy correcting others because it makes them feel virtuous; compensating for failures within themselves that they have no willingness to face. This type of judgment is rooted in pride and insecurity and God calls it sin. Matthew 7:3 says, "Why do you look at a speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye." In other words, don't be a hypocrite; because the judgment we make about others is the same manner of judgment we will receive from God.
As Christians, we are supposed to be led by the Holy Spirit in everything we say and do. We are not to judge according to the flesh (the outward appearance) and we are never to use our "authority" to put someone down or lord it over another. Our motives and our intent must be pure. They must come from a place of love and respect for the other person. We are to operate in humility considering we ourselves are flawed. We must learn to correct in a kind, thoughtful and considerate manner, using the standards of God's Word, which is the plumb line upon which everything is measured. We must always remember that the purpose is to heal a spiritual wound.
The scriptures in the Bible about judging are not meant as a license, a get out of free card; to not have to make a distinction between good and evil or truth from error. They were not meant as a command to be absolutely neutral and tolerant regarding moral issues, but a warning to be careful and loving when we do make judgments. For the believer, it is clear that we cannot escape our responsibility to judge. There are so many scriptures that speak to this in God's Word. In fact, 1 Corinthians 6:2 states, "Do you not know that the Lord's people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?" and 1 Corinthians 6:3 states, "Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more in this life!"
I have been telling fellow Christians for years that they have got to know the Word of God for themselves. The Bible tells us to study and show ourselves approved, a workman not ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). There's a powerful seducing spirit that has been unleashed into the earth, whereby one can be easily deceived if you are not anchored in truth. Do not be beguiled by the enemy's twisting of God's Word as Eve was in the garden of Eden. Remember that Satan does nothing original; his method of operation never changes. One of the best lines of defense against deception is the knowledge of the Word of God, which is infallible and absolute! But no matter what the devil may desire, one thing stands sure: Heaven and Earth will pass away but My (Jesus) words will never pass away! (Matt. 24:25).
Shalom!