Having opinions, judging or being judgmental

In the Christian world, there are people who say we may not judge nor vote.

John 7:24 says

“Stop judging by mere appearances, and make it right judgement”

Many people forget that we may not judge according to appearance, but it does not say we may not judge at all. We should investigate everything before we express our opinion. By giving our idea we should have judged righteous before we express ourselves.

“’You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.” (Le 19:15 NAS)

“”Thus has the LORD of hosts said, ’Dispense true justice, and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother;” (Zec 7:9 NAS)

Often we make a judgement already by only seeing a person, without having spoken enough with him or her to get some real idea of that person. We should try to do like God does, not judging on their ‘outside’, but getting to know their inner thoughts and compare it to their action and judge then their attitude.

“”You people judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone.” (Joh 8:15 NAS)

Every day of the week or of the year, we do have to face matters and have to judge them to take the right action. Some think or say that Jesus said we may not judge at all.

“”Do not judge lest you be judged.” (Mt 7:1 NAS)

Here Jesus warns us not to pick on people and to jump on their failures, criticize their faults unless, of course, we want the same treatment. Jesus lets us know that the attitude we take or critical spirit to look at others has a way of boomeranging.

It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbour’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Often we find people who say they are Christian and want to be ‘holier than the pope’, living with a whole travelling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living their part.

“1  “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ’Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5 “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.” (Mt 7:1-5 NAS95)

Jesus is telling us to remove the plank from our own eye so that we may help the other person. As such we have to check our own attitude and thinking and doing away with the faults of ourselves.

Just as we are commanded to not condemn others, we are also commanded to not ignore sin. This requires the act of judging others in a biblical way.

It is important to be able to discern the difference between the judging.  There is judging that is mentioned in Matthew 7:1-5 and the biblical kind of judgement mentioned in John 7:24:

“”Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”” (Joh 7:24 NAS95)

Jesus is indicating we may not just show discernment because we do not like something from a person, but allows as to examine a person and gives us permission to tell right from wrong. We may go into confrontation with someone else, but have to be very careful how (and why) we do it.

The ultimate goal in confronting someone is to bring that person to repentance. We are called to judge sin with the goal of bringing repentance and reconciliation.

God commands us to point out the truth with hope, love, and Christ-like compassion. 

“but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,” (Eph 4:15 NAS95)

So before we give some remarks to someone, we should consider if our opinion is right and how we are going to say it would be right. At all times we should really be sure that we are right in what we are remarking and that we give our opinion in the right way.

We are told to correct, rebuke, and encourage, which means that we would have made a judgement or formed an opinion, otherwise, we would not be able to give a correction or rebuke something. At all times we should be ready to give a Christian opinion, making it that we can teach people and correct them in the things we think are wrong. As being taught in the word we should try always to use the right way to communicate, giving an example in all good things, have become imitators of the apostles and their master teacher, Jesus Christ, having received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit;

“preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.” (2Ti 4:2 NAS95)

“You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,” (1Th 1:6 NAS95)

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Find also to read

1. Matthew 7:1-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Neighbor Love Continued 7: Matthew 7:1-5 Judgment and neighbor love
2. Being prudent – zorgvuldig zijn
3. How we think shows through in how we act
4. How us to behave
5. Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience
6. Do we have to be an anarchist to react
7. Judgement
8. We have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace
9. A Living Faith #3 Faith put into action
10. Sow and harvests in the garden of your heart
11. Believe and speak and act in ways which show we have life in Christ’s name
12. Raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair
13. Who are the honest ones?
14. Followers with deepening

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Further related

1. When someone criticizes your appearance
2. Reflections on Flourish Part 11Things you shouldn’t do.Working out our own salvation (Philippians 2)
3. To Judge
4. Go Ahead, Judge Me! I know you are!
5. The Self Righteous Person Is The Most Dangerous Person In The Room (Bible Study Matthew 7 Part 1)
6. Does ‘judge not’ mean make no judgements about sin?
7. Do you think its ever ok to judge?
8. Do Not Judge Others
9. Feeling better by condemning
10. Do to others…
11. Do you find it easy to criticize bad behavior to very close friends?
12. When I was deemed a liar…
13. Unwillingness to “bother people”
14. Making Mistakes, Dealing With Judgement And Shining On.
15. Dirty Hands
16. Remember who you ARE!
17. God’s Report Cards
18. God’s Righteousness and Justice. VIII: Clothed in Christ’s Righteousness
19. Be the Lighthouse
20. Different Kinds of Values
21. The Judge Stands at the Door
22. Justice
23. God Loves All!