‘Don’t Judge Me! You’re Not God!’: Can Christians Judge Others?
The phrase ‘You’re not God and therefore you can’t judge me’ is a very typical response that people use against anything Bible-believing Christians say. In fact, I was prompted to write this because I saw this same tactic being used by Tomi Lahren regarding her views on the Alabama restriction on abortion. The CBS News article (on cbsnews.com by Caitlin O’Kane, 5/17/2019) explained that Tomi Lahren, who generally aligns herself with conservative values although she is probably better described as a libertarian, stated on twitter that the Alabama ban on abortion is “too restrictive”. Her issue with the ban is that it promotes too much governmental oversight. She explains that she is pro-life, but does favor exceptions in the cases of rape and incest. It is in these cases that the government is being too restrictive over our bodies. She claims women will just use more dangerous methods to get an abortion since no ban the government can place will ever stop the procedure.
Of course, I take serious issue with her views. I find them oddly hypocritical as abortion of any kind, even in cases of rape and incest, is the grossest form of government intrusion on a basic constitutional right: the right to life. We all acknowledge that the government has a right to regulate our bodies to some extent when it comes to murder. We cannot just go and murder someone and if we do, the government will punish us by taking our bodies and placing them in jail. We do this because we value the right to life as more important than the right of our bodies to do what we want, such as kill someone. So, any true libertarian who values the constitution should hate abortion because it denies the most fundamental constitutional right: the right to life.
However, my post here isn’t about her view on abortion (although I very strongly disagree with her). My post is about her tactic she uses to try and shut up any moral argument against her and still keep her so-called ‘Christian’ faith. I felt compelled to comment because I have heard this argument over and over again. I have seen Christian’s cower in response. The argument is basic: ‘don’t judge me’. They say only God can judge and we cannot. But is this actually true? Does the Bible allow us to judge others?
The answer is an absolute YES! There is a right and a wrong way to judge, but the Bible is completely clear that as a Christian we are not only encouraged to judge others, but commanded to do so. So, the idea that no one can judge other Christians on their political or social thoughts is completely anti-Biblical. Sadly, many Christians do not understand judgement in the Bible because they don’t take the time to read it. This misunderstanding leads to a lot of cowardly Christians that have no response to the fake Christians who use this tactic to excuse their sin.
The most common passage that these so-called ‘Christians’ use is found in Matthew 7. I have placed it below.
Matthew 7:1-4
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
On the surface and without context, it would seem that the Bible supports the whole “you can’t judge me” argument. However, even this passage doesn’t actually support that view. The passage actually speaks of being aware that we ALL will be judged and, therefore, we need to recognize and correct our own spiritual flaws. It is easy to point out the problems in others, but difficult to see our own sins. In fact, verse 5 goes on to say “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Notice how judgement of other’s sin is not at all rebuked. Jesus just warns us to not be hypocrites in the process. We need to judge ourselves as well.
In fact, Jesus continues on in that same chapter in Matthew commanding us to judge those around us based on their “fruit” (their actions) to determine if they are truly Christians or not.
Matthew 7:15-23
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The only way to know if someone is in the truth is to determine it by their actions. This is the definiton of judging others. In fact, when it comes to false prophets who teach a truth that is not God’s Word, we are to “receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.” Any diligent student of God’s Word can attest to the fact that the Bible does not sugarcoat false teachers and false prophets. In fact, the Bible is outright hostile to them because they not only destroy their own souls, but the souls of others.
Another passage that is occasionally misunderstood is the following passage from James 4. Not only is this passage used inappropriately by these fake Christians who want to excuse their in, but it actually provides an excellent point about how we are supposed to judge so I have included it here.
James 4:11-12
11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judgeth the the law: but if thou judge the law, thou are not a doer of the law, but a judge.
12 There is but one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; who is able to save and to destroy; who art thou that judgest another?”
Again, on the surface, this passage may seem to claim that we cannot judge someone else. But on close examination at what is actually being said, the verse is talking about how we judge and denounces hypocrisy in judgement. We must judge based off of the whole law: God’s law! We don’t get to judge based off of our law. We don’t get to look at others, judge them, and then not keep the law ourselves! By doing this, we are creating our own law. There is only one law and one lawgiver: God! It is HIS law we must judge ourselves and others on.
There are plenty of other passages that speak of judgement of others and how to do so properly. Here is another one in Galatians that also reminds us that our judgement should be done to help others get right with Christ. Clearly, judgement of other’s sin with the intention to feel better about yourself or hurt them is wrong. However, doing so to strengthen them spiritually is a good thing and even helps the one judging to not be tempted to follow.
Galatians 6:1-6
6 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
The bottom line is that, according to the Bible, Christians have every right to judge you. However, they should also be continually judging themselves by God’s Word as well. Judgement of other’s sins should be done by God’s Word, the only true law, and not our own feelings or rules.
It is not about “moral superiority” as Toni Lahren said but by what the Bible says. If it was based on my rules and I condemned her view on abortion, then she has a point that I am judging on the basis of my own moral authority. However, I know abortion of ANY KIND is wrong because it violates God’s Word: the only true basis for judgement. Any person who claims to be a Christian, but knowingly denies God’s Word/Law, then he/she is not the Christians he/she claims to be.
Please don’t cower to the false notion that the Bible says we are not “allowed” to judge others. That is simply not true. These people are cherrypicking the passages without context in order to support their view and excuse their sin. If you want to be a Christian, you can’t do that. You must follow ALL of God’s Word! However, remember, there comes a day when we will ALL stand before Jesus Christ to give an account of our actions for judgement.