Why Christians Are Biblically Called to Judge

Good morning, Church! Today, we’re going to tackle a topic that gets twisted all the time—judging. People love to throw around Matthew 7:1: "Do not judge, or you too will be judged," as if Jesus was telling us to never call out sin or discern right from wrong. But is that really what He meant? Not at all! The Bible actually commands us to judge—but to do it the right way. So let’s break this down and clear up the confusion.

Righteous Judgment vs. Wrong Judgment

Jesus wasn’t saying, "Never judge." He was saying, "Don’t judge unfairly." In John 7:24, He clears it up:

"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment."

In other words, don’t be the person who jumps to conclusions based on rumors, emotions, or personal opinions. Instead, judge using God’s Word as the standard.

Let’s be real—if Christians never judged anything, we’d have no way to discern truth from lies, good from evil, or right from wrong. That’s not wisdom; that’s chaos! 1 Corinthians 2:15 even says, "The spiritual person judges all things." So, judging itself isn’t the problem. It’s how we do it that matters.

Judgment is About Accountability, Not Condemnation

Too often, people think judgment means pointing fingers and tearing others down. But biblical judgment is about accountability, correction, and restoration. Galatians 6:1 tells us,

"If someone is caught in sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently."

Key word: gently. This isn't about shaming people—it’s about helping them get back on track.

Think about it like this: If you saw a friend walking straight into traffic, would you just let them go? Of course not! You’d warn them, maybe even pull them back. The same goes for sin. When we lovingly confront someone about sin, we’re not attacking them—we’re saving them from disaster.

The Bible Calls Us to Judge Within the Church

Here’s another common misconception: "Christians aren’t supposed to judge anyone!" Wrong. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 says,

"Are you not to judge those inside [the church]? God will judge those outside."

In other words, it’s not our job to police the world, but we are responsible for holding each other accountable as believers.

Jesus even gave us a step-by-step process for confronting sin in Matthew 18:15-17. First, talk to the person privately. If they don’t listen, bring in a couple of witnesses. If they still refuse correction, bring it before the church. This isn’t about gossip or humiliation—it’s about lovingly leading people to repentance.

Avoiding Hypocritical Judgment

Now, before you start thinking, "Alright, time to go on a sin-hunting mission!"—hold up. Jesus had a serious warning about hypocritical judgment. In Matthew 7:3-5, He talks about the person who’s trying to remove a speck from someone else’s eye while ignoring the giant plank in their own.

Translation? If you’re going to call out someone’s sin, make sure you’ve dealt with your own first. You can’t tell someone to quit lying while you’re out here gossiping. Get right with God, then help others.

Spotting False Teachers

Another reason we need to judge biblically? To protect ourselves from deception. 1 John 4:1 warns us,

"Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Jesus said it Himself in Matthew 7:15-16: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit, you will recognize them." This means we need to evaluate teachers, preachers, and influencers by their actions, not just their words. Do they preach biblical truth? Do they live what they preach? If not, stay away!

Judgment With Love and Humility

At the end of the day, our judgment should never come from a place of pride but from love. We’re not called to sit on a high horse and look down on people. We’re called to lead them to truth. Proverbs 31:9 says,

"Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Biblical judgment isn’t about tearing people apart—it’s about speaking truth, standing for righteousness, and helping others grow closer to God.

But let’s not forget—ultimate judgment belongs to God. James 4:12 reminds us:

"There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?"

This isn’t saying, "Never judge," but rather, "Don’t try to take God’s place." Our role is to judge righteously, not to act like we’re God Himself.

Final Thought: Are You Judging the Right Way?

So, let’s wrap this up. Are Christians called to judge? Absolutely. But we’re called to do it the right way—through Scripture, with love, and without hypocrisy. We hold each other accountable, we discern false teachings, and we stand for truth. But we don’t condemn. We don’t judge based on personal opinion. And we don’t forget that we, too, are in need of grace.

The world says, "Only God can judge me." Well, that should scare some people! But for believers, judging biblically isn’t about being mean—it’s about helping each other stay on the right path.

So, Church, let’s judge wisely. Let’s judge biblically. And let’s do it all with the love of Christ.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word that gives us wisdom and truth. Help us to judge righteously—not by our own opinions, but by Your standards. Give us humility, discernment, and boldness to speak truth in love. Help us to be a light in this world and to hold one another accountable in a way that honors You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.