You’ve likely heard the popular accusation, “Christians are so judgmental.” And in many instances, these comments are, unfortunately, justified. In a culture that prompts us to measure our worth primarily against one another, we all, Christians included, are tempted to look at our neighbor and think either “I’m better than they are” or “they are better than me.”
However, we know that both of these judgments are caustic to our identity and self-worth. If we think better of ourselves, we are stuffed with pride. If we compare and think less of ourselves, we are soured by shame. We, especially those who have died to ourselves and have been raised with Christ, should aim to think rightly about who we are, not judging one another, but looking to Christ as the author and perfector of our new identity.
That’s the simple answer to the question of whether or not being judgmental has any place in Christianity. It does not, and Jesus affirms this when he says in Matthew 7:1-5,
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye."
God alone is judge, and as Paul would write in Romans 3, He is the “just and the justifier.” There are other various references in the gospels that refer to God’s responsibility of judgment and how He has worked through Jesus to judge both sin and the world. It is His work to do with as He pleases. Only He is truly righteous, truly worthy, truly holy, and set apart that He could judge without coercion, conflict, or partiality. We would do well to leave this work in His greatly capable hands.
However, as is the case with most things of faith, there is more nuance to this topic that we should explore in further depth, namely: does judgment have any place purely between believers?
On its face, this question highlights a crucial distinction that we should address before going further. As was said above, being judgmental has no place within Christianity, to which we should add, especially so to those who are unbelievers and far from God. If you call yourself a Christian and confess to living a life modeled after the teachings of Jesus, you must embrace this reality: there is no merit in judging someone who does not confess the same foundational beliefs to which you hold.
Not only are you building your life on a different cornerstone, but you are also using different materials in the construction process. Paul, in Romans 6:14, says that “...sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” How can we expect those not grounded on the cornerstone of Jesus and not building their lives by His grace to ever adhere to the same standards we ourselves are called to uphold?
During his earthly ministry, Jesus did not walk around Judea and Jerusalem simply judging those who were spiritually sick and destitute, those who did not affirm Judaism, the major “Christian” religion of the day. He healed the demoniac in the region of the Gerasenes, a place that was not primarily Jewish (as is seen by the herd of pigs grazing nearby). He dined with the tax collectors. He touched the bier of a funeral procession. He said He came to heal the sick, because they knew they needed a doctor. In fact, a good argument could be made that the only ones He truly judged were those who claimed to be religious and yet lived a verifiably unholy lifestyle. Those who washed the outside of the cup but left the inside dirty and stained.
So, in following His example, we should not judge those who are outside of the faith and way of Jesus. They will give account to God alone at the end of their appointed days on Earth, and He, in His wisdom and holiness, will render any final verdicts. Therefore, we should aim to love our enemies, as Jesus taught, showering them with gracious compassion that disrupts their presumptions. That is why if we are struck on one cheek, we are to offer the other, or if someone demands our coat, we should give them our shirt as well. Instead of judging, let us aim to stun those who do not know Jesus by our generous kindness and our disarming humility and authenticity.
With this more clearly explained, let’s turn back now to the question of whether being judgmental has any place among believers.
Again, the answer is a factual no. However, I believe that there is a practical yes to this question that hinges on the definition and application of the word “judgmental.” Exploring this demands that we proceed with caution, as nuancing definitions can and has led to using theology in a harmful way. I will explain in detail below so as to hopefully avoid this result.
In an effort to avoid being judgmental, many believers have foregone the biblical responsibilities of accountability and true discipleship. The devil and his demons are thrilled when this happens, when they are able to confuse our convictions in such a way that sin lingers unconfronted and unconfessed. We’ve seen this all too often in the Church today, and you need look no further than to the typical small group. It is in these environments that, so often, believers, sitting in a circle and engaging each other through the word, will begin to confess some pattern of sin or snare of desire, to which they are met with a non-judgmental and equally non-confrontational response.
“I’m struggling to read my bible consistently.” “I just keep looking at things I know I shouldn’t.” “I don’t like it when I get angry, but it keeps cropping up in my parenting.”
The seemingly non-judgmental response to these things demands a soft head nod, a praising of vulnerability, and a shifting of the spotlight of the Spirit away from the one sharing and onto the next small group member: “John, how are you doing?”
Please hear me: believers have no grounds to be judgmental towards one another, seeing as we all walked through the same empty tomb on course to our resurrection; however, believers do have a responsibility and must participate in the sharpening of the soul and the mortification of sin in each other. This is one of the essential components of true community—that we would aid one another in the mutual pursuit of conforming more to the image of Jesus.
In Galatians 2:11, Paul wrote of Peter, “But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.” Only God could and would judge Peter, but in that moment, Paul was opposing his behavior and the resulting spiritual malady.
It is quite possible to oppose the behavior of a brother or sister in Christ without being judgmental. It is quite possible to say, “I, though no better or worse than you, am calling out that behavior as not being in accord with the Lordship of Jesus.” That type of gracious confrontation is what leads to repentance and restoration (not salvifically, but earthly restoration).
This is what we see in verses like James 5:19-20 or 1 Corinthians 5:5. There is no place for judgment, even within believers (see Romans 2 for even more evidence as to this truth). However, we must work diligently to find the line between judgment and accountability, because we have too easily erred in recent times towards forsaking accountability in an effort not to be perceived as judgmental.
Because judgment belongs only to God, we must confess those areas of our hearts that are still too comfortable with the comparative temptation. And we must, in humility, embrace a view of love towards our brothers and sisters in Christ that is seeded with a desperate desire to see holiness be brought to completion.
