To Judge or Not to Judge?
“But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.” – 1 Corinthians 2:15
What if I told you that Christians actually need more and less judgment simultaneously? That may sound confusing, but the truth is, we need more spiritual discernment and less condemning judgment. The problem is not judging in itself but judging wrongly. Many today confuse biblical discernment with hypocrisy, and tolerance with love. Yet Scripture calls believers to grow in righteous judgment, discerning good from evil, while avoiding the self-righteous condemning judgment of others, because God alone is the only righteous judge.
The Need for More Judgment (Discernment)
In Scripture, judgment often means to discern—to make right determinations by comparing facts and truth (Exo 18:16). It’s the act of distinguishing what aligns with God’s word from what doesn’t. That’s the kind of judgment every Christian needs more of and it is cultivated through study of God’s word rightly divided and the guidance of the Holy Spirit (2Ti 3:16-17, 2:15; Heb 5:14, 4:12, 1Th 5:21).
Paul wrote that the spiritual man “judgeth all things” (1Co 2:15), meaning the mature believer should discern every situation in light of the word of God. This kind of judgment is essential for spiritual growth, wisdom, and righteousness (Pro 28:5; 1Co 10:15; 2Ti 2:7). Without it, we fall into deception and compromise.
We live in an age that calls evil good and good evil (Isa 5:20). Many Christians get swept up in the world’s course and end up thinking, speaking, and acting like everyone else because truth is not firmly rooted in their inner man. To walk in the truth of God, we must first know it, and we must be willing to make judgments—moral and spiritual discernments—based on the authority of Scripture, not the opinions of culture.
The Problem with Condemning Judgment
Condemning judgment, however, that passes a sentence is a different matter. It’s the kind of judgment we see rebuked in Romans 2 and 14—the self-righteous, hypocritical kind that often measures others by personal standards, preferences, and outward appearances instead of God’s Word.
“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.” – Romans 2:1
The Pharisees were experts in this kind of judgment. They pointed out others’ faults while ignoring their own (Mat 7:1-5; 23:23-28). This is the hypocrisy Jesus condemned—not righteous discernment, but prideful condemnation which ends up puffing up the sinful flesh by putting others down. Notice though, the problem wasn't the judgement itself, but rather, the hypocritical condemnation:
"[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? [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.” – Mat 7:1-5
In Romans 14, Paul addresses believers judging one another. His message was simple: stop condemning others for things that God has left to individual conscience. Each believer stands or falls before his own Master (Rom 14:4). All we can do is speak the truth in love to point people to the truth (Eph 4:15), so that everyone can be persuaded in their own mind (Rom 14:5).
God’s Word calls us to judge sin and doctrine rightly, but not to assume God’s role as Judge over another person’s heart or personal faith.
God’s Judgment Is the Standard
“But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.” – Romans 2:2
Unlike human judgment, which is limited and biased, God’s judgment is always according to truth. He alone possesses perfect knowledge and absolute righteousness. Every person will one day stand before Him—either judged by their wicked works for eternal condemnation if they have rejected the gospel, or justified by faith in Christ and appearing before the judgment seat of Christ to give account for their service done in the body (Rom 14:10-12; 2:16; 1Co 3:10-15; 2Ti 1:8-10).
Those who exalt themselves in moral superiority or religious performance forget that they, too, are guilty. Only by understanding God’s righteous standard do we learn how to judge rightly—with humility and grace.
Judging with Grace and Truth
So how do Christians strike the balance, judging righteously without condemning?
What to Judge: The deep things of God/spiritual things (1Co 2:9-13, 3:1-2), sound doctrine (Col 2:7-8, 16; Php 1:9-11), Godly behavior in ourselves and others in the Body (1Co 5:11-6:5). When we seek to discern right and wrong, we are judging the way God has intended us to.
What Not to Judge: People and their hearts (Rom 2:1-3; 14:4-10; 1Co 4:2-4). Only Christ sees perfectly. We are all hypocrites (sinners saved by grace don’t you know, Eph 2:8-9) and when we seek to condemn others, whilst not fully understanding all the facts necessary to be just or impartial, we are actually being prejudiced hypocrites. We don’t have perfect knowledge and can’t see the hearts of man, and thus can’t be the just judge of people. Only Christ can fill that shoe!
How to Judge: We must judge right and wrong according to truth of God (Rom 2:2), with humility, mercy, and self-examination (1Co 11:13, Rom 14:3-13).
We must be careful to examine ourselves first before helping others. True discernment begins with humility and a desire for restoration, not condemnation (Gal 6:1). It is only in that spirit of charity and humility, that our admonition, correction, rebuke, and exhortation can be done properly:
"[24] And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, [25] In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; [26] And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." - 2 Timothy 2:24-26
Judging Among Christians vs. the Unsaved
When we exercise judgment, we must understand that our approach differs depending on whether we’re discerning within the Body of Christ or toward those who are lost. Among believers, judgment is meant for edification and restoration, not condemnation. Paul instructed the Corinthian church to judge those within so that sin and wrong doctrine would not spread unchecked, but rather would be corrected (1Co 5:12-13, 2Co 2:6-11). Righteous judgment within the Body helps protect the testimony of Christ and encourages believers to walk worthy of the vocation we have in Christ (Gal 6:1; Eph 4:1-3, 15-16, 1Co 9:27).
However, toward the unsaved, our role is not to condemn but to declare truth with compassion. We cannot expect the lost to live like saints when they do not yet know the Savior and the truth of God. In fact, the only reason we're not in their same shoes is because of God's grace:
"[3] For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. [4] But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, [5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." - Titus 3:3-7
Instead of self-righteous condemnation from our self-perceived moral high-horse, we point them to the consequence of their sin, which we also once had, while showing them the love and salvation found in the gospel of Christ alone (Rom 1:16; 2Co 5:18-21). Our goal is not to correct their conduct before conversion but to share the soul-saving, life-giving, mind-renewing message of Christ's grace.
Therefore, Christians must judge carefully—with grace toward the world and loving accountability within the church—always reflecting God’s heart of truth and mercy.
God’s Goodness Leads to Right Judgment
We are reminded in Romans 2 that God’s goodness and longsuffering are meant to lead people to repentance, not rebellion:
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” – Romans 2:4
We must judge with this same heart: with the goodness and longsuffering of God as our model. Righteous judgment is not fueled by anger or superiority but by love that seeks to restore others to truth.
When we discern rightly and speak truth in love (Eph 4:15), we reflect the character of Christ, the perfect Judge who died for sinners and offers salvation freely, when we deserved condemnation.
Conclusion
Our world doesn’t need less judgment—it needs the right kind of judgment. Christians must grow in spiritual discernment, judging all things by God’s Word while avoiding the condemning judgment that belongs to God alone.
We are called to judge sin, doctrine, and behavior in light of truth, but never to condemn souls. God alone is the righteous Judge, yet He shows His goodness, forbearance, and mercy through Jesus Christ.
So, to judge or not to judge? Yes—judge righteously, with truth and grace so that you can walk rightly and help others be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1Ti 2:4). But no—don’t condemn, that’s God’s job.
Praise God that, though we were once guilty and blind in judgment, His mercy can open our eyes through Christ, who offers salvation freely by grace (Rom 5:8; 3:21-26).
