WHAT ARE CHRISTIANS OFTEN MISTAKEN ABOUT?
JUDGMENT
EPHESIANS 5:10–11 – Find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Everyone makes mistakes at some point in life. Some are minor and inconsequential. Others are more significant—requiring time to rectify—yet they do not cause much lasting harm. However, some mistakes cause severe damage—sometimes so profound that they cannot be undone, even over an entire lifetime. As Christians, we are called children of the Light; therefore, as we follow the Lord in this life, it is in our best interest to avoid as many mistakes as possible. This is, first and foremost, to ensure we do not grieve the Lord; second, to spare ourselves unnecessary harm; and third, to maintain a strong witness to those who do not yet believe.
The potential mistakes one might make in life are countless. Yet, the Bible provides comprehensive guidance for Christians regarding significant errors—serving as essential benchmarks to help us remain vigilant and cautious in our daily lives. To begin, we will address a common misunderstanding among Christians regarding the terms “judging” (passing judgment) and “discerning” (making an assessment). While these two concepts may seem similar, their meanings are entirely distinct—especially in how we apply them in everyday life.
In the Bible, “judgment” signifies the pronouncement of guilt—and, more significantly, it entails an accompanying penalty. We all know that God is the Judge, meaning He is the One who declares humanity guilty (Deuteronomy 32:41; Judges 11:27; 1 Samuel 2:10; Job 11:10; Psalm 9:4) and imposes a penalty commensurate with each individual’s actions (2 Chronicles 6:23). Because of this, “judgment” has become a weighty term—one that Christians often hesitate to use.
Nevertheless, judgment frequently occurs among human beings—between one person and another—even when neither party holds the position of a judge (Genesis 31:37). This is a common reality of life. Humans tend to pass judgment as a means of retaliation against those they dislike, using various methods to do so. A classic example of everyday judgment is slandering or defaming others (2 Timothy 3:2). This is a form of judgment because slander—often untrue—invariably leads to harmful consequences for the person being maligned. (A common expression for this is “labeling” or “pinning a label” on someone—attributing actions or traits to them that they did not, in fact, possess or exhibit.) This method is frequently employed in societies living under authoritarian regimes—whether as a means for individuals to exact revenge upon one another, or, on a broader scale, as a tool to silence the masses, terrorize the populace, and coerce them into submission.
For this reason, the Word of God in the Bible forbids Christians from judging others (Matthew 7:1; Luke 6:37; Romans 2:1–3) or speaking ill of them (1 Timothy 3:11; Titus 2:3; Titus 3:2), as such actions constitute a form of wrongful judgment. This does NOT mean that Christians are never permitted to exercise judgment. The prohibition against judging applies to illegitimate instances (Colossians 2:16)—such as those driven by personal opinion or private vendettas.
However, Christians must exercise judgment in specific, significant instances. For example, this applies when someone introduces a sinful lifestyle into the church, or when internal disputes arise between Christians (1 Corinthians 5:12). Such judgment—which includes refusing to allow those living in sin to remain part of the Christian fellowship (1 Corinthians 5:11), or resolving conflicts and disagreements—helps the church maintain its identity as a community set apart for the Lord, while also preserving a good reputation within the broader society (1 Corinthians 6:1; 11:34).
Yet, not all Christians fully grasp the true meaning of “judgment.” The devil exploits this lack of understanding to destroy churches from within. We must remember that Satan even used Scripture to tempt Jesus (Psalm 91:12; Matthew 4:6). If he did that, he will certainly use the same tactic to cause Christians to falter in our spiritual warfare and to dismantle churches. His strategy relies on the Christians’ own lack of biblical knowledge to secure his victory. Remember that Jesus overcame the devil’s temptations—not through raw power or angelic intervention, but by correctly applying the Scriptures. This is the approach that Christians ought to emulate and follow, for the Bible is the Truth of God and the sword of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). Yet, when Christians lack an understanding of the Scriptures—or grasp them only at a superficial, literal level—the devil and Satan gain the upper hand. They rely on Christians following the Lord in this manner to ensure their own continued success.
We often hear many people—from ordinary believers to those in positions of authority within the church—admonishing God’s children not to judge anyone. They use this injunction to silence Christians, much like a totalitarian regime would; it leaves believers afraid to speak out when they witness wrongdoing, sin, or conduct that is offensive and contrary to biblical standards. The devil employs this insidious tactic to introduce worldly customs into the church, to tolerate carnal-minded leaders, to foster factions within the house of God, and to lower moral standards throughout the Christian community.
Throughout history, churches and individual Christians have been deceived by the devil in this very way—to such an extent that today, even though the number of people who profess to believe in Christ and follow the faith has reached over 2 billion (2.3 billion, according to statistics), the influence of the church in the world continues to wane. In our present day, the devil’s brand of religion is gaining the upper hand everywhere. They commit murder—slitting the throats of Christians while filming it for the world to see—rape women, force children into marriage with older men, drive vehicles into marketplaces to run over shoppers, and plant bombs in crowded areas; yet, the world still labels their faith a “religion of peace.”
Meanwhile, Christians remain silent, fearing we will be accused of being hateful or “judging” others. Ultimately, this concept of “judging” has become an invincible weapon for Satan—much like how he wields the very word “love.” Whenever he brandishes these two weapons, Christians fall silent, retreat, and suffer immediate defeat. This occurs because God’s people have yet to distinguish between love rooted in God’s Truth and the blind, counterfeit love promoted by the devil—nor have they grasped the difference between “judging” and “discerning” (or making an assessment). So, what exactly is the difference between these two? When we, as Christians, carefully study God’s Word in the Bible, that distinction becomes immediately clear. We will summarize it here and explain further in the sections that follow.
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the term “judging” implies the act of pronouncing guilt, with a corresponding penalty imposed upon the person being judged (Psalm 9:16; 75:7). In contrast, “evaluating” (or discerning) means determining what is right and what is wrong, and subsequently responding in a manner appropriate for oneself. This personal application—aligning one’s way of life with one’s own evaluation—creates a crucial distinction between hypocrisy (judging others and imposing burdens on them) (Matthew 23:4; Luke 11:46) and the integrity of a Christian (James 2:12).
To put it simply: “judging” relates directly to the person being judged, whereas “evaluating” relates solely to the person doing the evaluating. It should be clarified that a Christian may engage in evaluation either internally (such as through private prayer with the Lord) or externally (such as by proclaiming a message openly—“from the housetops”) (Matthew 10:27). Whether others choose to listen or act accordingly is a matter of their own free will; however, the potential reactions of others do not negate a Christian’s right to offer an evaluation openly and honestly (Acts 18:9; Ephesians 4:25).
If our evaluations are grounded in the Bible and illuminated by the Holy Spirit, we ought to express them openly. Doing so is one way to express love for others—by sharing our perspective on people or situations, especially regarding matters of sin, right, and wrong in daily life. If Christians do not voice our views, how can we ever be a light to the world? If Christians, enlightened by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God regarding the moral standards that ought to be upheld, choose to remain silent, are we not effectively placing our lamp under a basket? (Matthew 5:15; Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16; 11:33). A Christian who remains silent—refusing to offer any judgment or opinion—fails to bear witness or provide any light to others. Only the devil takes pleasure in such silence from Christians.
(to be continued)