Being Judgmental of Others

Definition: (for our purposes here we will use the following definition)
Judge – to form an estimate or evaluation of; to form an opinion; critic

Mt 7:1 ¶ Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mt 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Lu 6:37 ¶ Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Joh 8:15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.

Joh 12:47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

Ro 14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Ro 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Ro 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

1Co 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Col 2:16 ¶ Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

I think we all try not to judge anyone else. After all, we are followers and seekers but does that make us experts on the mind of God? And have we forgotten where we came from and what God has brought us out of? Further, as in the above verses, if Jesus Christ said he judges no man, and he is our mentor and leader, should we?

Have you every heard someone say “Well, I don’t know how he/she can be a Christian and do such and such.” We are not all alike, and many of us may be at a different place in our walk. Does that mean that God loves us any less? If you have been a Christian for a long time, think back to the time when you were a new Christian. Did you not stumble at times? And did God reveal everything to you at the time of your salvation? Or – did new things come to light as you trusted and obeyed Him and read His Word?

Lord, help us to be patient with others, not to judge, and if we see a concern, let us pray about it and put it in your hands, knowing you are capable and faithful to lay conviction on hearts where necessary. It has never been our job to do that. And most of all, help us to never, ever lose our compassion for people. Amen.