In this life we make judgments daily on any number of things, yet our Lord commands us not to judge. We must make judgments in order to make the decisions required to manage ourselves and the daily activities and relationships of life, yet we are not to judge others or make a distinction between ourselves and our actions and the lives and deeds of others.
The word translated here for judge is the Greek krinō (kree-no) and refers to making a judgment or implication that is condemning or damning, calls into question, or tries someone by decision. Included in this would be to take someone before the courts or to make penal judgments or condemnations indiscriminately or without thorough investigation.
This is not to say we are to ignore civil justice or societal applications of the law or unacceptable behavior − to do this we would have to avoid contact or community altogether. However, it is a clear instruction against racing to condemn someone rashly.
We would be wise to take a step back in instances where we find ourselves making judgments on others and try to imagine our own selves walking in their shoes. How easy it is to condemn the actions of another before knowing the whole story. Groupthink can be a very dangerous outcome of this if we find ourselves trying to fit in with others. There is much history to show a natural leaning in the carnal heart to be on the side of the masses; many a witch-hunt has condemned the innocent in order to cool the fever of the crowd.
Unscrupulous litigation is another area covered by this word krinō. In modern America it is a full-time business for some attorneys to make a substantial profit looking for opportunities and loopholes to find legal support for litigation. One need merely to slip and fall on another's property or business establishment and soon a lawyer may appear to show the potential benefits of such a normal mishap. Whether it was your fault or that of another or just an accident matters little. Billboard signs line the highways of many cities beckoning us to avail ourselves of our legal right to gain from such things and the potential benefits of doing so.
The apostle Paul gives clear counsel concerning such behavior in the Church writing to the Corinthians, "Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren." (1 Cor. 6:6,7)
This is not to say that we are never to seek justice in the case of wrongdoing. There is clear justification for such actions at times when unjust damage occurs or fraudulent behavior is involved.
In the Scriptures, we see the mercy of God revealed as He readily forgives and restores people who have sinned against his will and repented of their deeds. We should be prone to forgiveness and slow to make judgments before knowing all of the facts. Even then, we should be ready to forgive when there is sincere contrition.
There are certain behaviors that are important to eliminate from our hearts if we are to be obedient to this command not to judge others. Here are several that are to be avoided:
• Gossip - If there is anything that can destroy lives, relationships, families and even entire church congregations, it is the sin of gossip. Rumor and innuendo have blemished many a reputation and caused much heartbreak among family and friends.
The Bible offers the cure for such things: speak the truth in love. Even then, it is best to speak the truth to someone rather that about him or her. How tempting it can be to share information about others.
On occasion gossip may even come disguised as a prayer request in church circles. We must remember the admonition found in James concerning this behavior:
"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell."
We must always be more ready to quench a fire than to add fuel to its flames.
• Prejudice - How easy it is to compare ourselves with others over meaningless or trivial matters. Cultural or racial intolerance can keep us from ever experiencing the blessings and wonders of others. All men are created in God's image and likeness, regardless of their race or background.
Narrow mindedness or prejudice over such things is pride in its most malicious expression. Prejudice over social position or talents and abilities can be equally destructive. Paul speaks clearly on this in I Corinthians:
"For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" (1 Cor. 4:7)
Therefore, we are not to compare ourselves to others, especially over things that we have received freely from the Lord by no choice or effort of our own.
• Criticism - The desire to find peer acceptance at the expense of another person is often visible at an early age among young children. The poor kid who is criticized by those more fortunate; the handicapped child who receives critical abuse or separation from others because of an affliction or birth defect; the timid boy who gets bullied around by others wishing to show how tough they are. These are all common examples of the early evidence of inborn sin.
Humans, at a very young age, can often display great selfishness and even cruelty. As Christians there is no place for such behavior. We must rebuke it in the young through instruction and example and, as adults, refuse to allow it room in our lives and in the Church. To the contrary, we should be always seeking to edify others and be speaking with grace on our lips. Imitating our Lord's kindness and unbiased way is high evidence of our desire to follow Him and to be like Him.