Are we to judge others?

Exactly how are you defining "judge"? If you're talking about judging one's salvation, of course not. If you're talking about holding people to a certain standard, then my answer is yes. Society wouldn't survive if we didn't hold people accountable for their actions.

Am I missing something about this question?

 

KJV James 4:12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

HankD

 

A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y

Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

Luk 12:57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

Act 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

1Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

1Co 10:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

1Co 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

1Co 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge

A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y N-O-T

Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 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.
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Mat 7:4 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?
Mat 7:5 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.

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

Rom 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.

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

It really depends on your definition of the word "judge". In one context it is condemned and in another context it is required.

 

The reason why judging is sometimes required and sometimes condemned is because there is "good judging" and "bad judging", and, as you say, it is a matter of definition for the two.

You quote some relevant verses, Artemaeus, but you left out Romans 14:4: "Who are you to pass judgment on another’s servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand."

God is our ONLY master and He has given us SPECIFIC instructions regarding SOME activities that are ALWAYS wrong and therefore always condemned (judged). Other activities are addressed more vaguely or not at all. These activities are left to Spirit-led interpretation and conviction.

It is correct to "judge" others by comparing their conduct to what scripture specifically says about it. This is the "good judging" I mentioned earlier.

It is NOT correct to add to scripture by applying our OWN convictions to the actions of OTHERS. This is "bad judging" (legalism), and Romans 14:1-12, specifically verse 4, tells us that to do this is wrong. (It is also not correct to ignore scripture that is for some reason unpleasant for us.)

Romans 14:1-12 tells us that differences in personal convictions are to be expected and that we are to accept them. Sometimes we just have to "agree to disagree". Does this mean that God thinks both of us are "right" when our convictions differ, or is there always a single "right" opinion? I don't know about that; only God does. But I do know that it is always WRONG for me to judge the other person with regard to matters of conviction. Remember, the issue here is not whether one or both of us is right or wrong in his conviction. The issue is what did God command us to do when we disagree, and the answer is to not judge each other.

I urge everyone to prayerfully read and contemplate Romans 14:1-12. A single scripture or passage rarely tells the "whole story" about any issue but I think this passage sums up "bad judging" pretty well.

 

We are permitted to judge in righteousness and objectivity. When we take on this role, we freely open ourselves up to being likewise judged.

However, most judging that is done does not fall into the aforementioned category. Most judging is done based on subjective like/dislike, not objective scriptural standards.

 

We are permitted by Scripture to judge according to Scripture. It is not judgemental to tell a homosexual that his lifestyle is wrong according to God's Word. We can get ourselves in a pickle when we tell someone we believe something is wrong because we think they are doing wrong and we have nothing substantial in Scripture to back it up.

This is not alway the case, but in many cases this is what I believe we do.

 

Just because you observe someone committing sin, while you are not does NOT mean that someone has not been saved. It does mean that they are currently not living in a manner that is consistent with Christian values, but then, even you the observer are guilty of that. Only God knows for sure if someone is going to Hell or has been saved from it. IF that someone professes to be a Christian, then it is our duty to encourage and help that person, as much as lies within us, to be reconciled to God and the Church. True, there are those who profess to Christian who are not, and there are those who profess to be Christian, are in fact Christian, and are living in a carnal state. Preachers who remember these truths are NOT "sissy-fied" (what a name to be calling people!) and do not necessarily exhibit a condition of fear.

(It is sometimes amazing what people will say about others who do not conform to their mental mold.)

 

What about the Christians at Corinth?

I don't know how old you are Pappy, but you have a lot to learn.

We are to be healers to our fallen brethren, not judge and jury or you could
end up in the same situation.


HankD

 

What sins will a Christian commit and what sins will they not commit?

 

Like what?

Will a Christian:

Lie?
Steal?
Cheat?
Be a racist?
Be a hypocrite?
Backbite?
Gossip?
Smoke?
Drink?
Overeat?
Use drugs?
Have immoral thoughts?
Look at women to lust?
View nudity?
View "hard-core" porn?
Disobey his parents?
Disobey the government?

Which of these can a Christian do?