We are not supposed to judge, we are told. So if we don't judge, isn’t the alternative to accept everything and anything? Yes, I know Jesus said, “Do not judge” (Matthew 7:1), but He was referring to the hypocritical practice of condemning others for what we haven’t judged as wrong in our own lives (verses 2-5). This kind of judging is far different from judging between right and wrong and good and evil. If a religious teacher contradicts biblical truth, we must judge his teaching to be wrong and harmful. If our conduct contradicts our profession to be Jesus’ followers, we must judge that conduct to be sinful and correct it.
The command “not to conform to the pattern of this world” (Romans 12:2) obligates us to judge what worldly thinking is so we can reject it. The command, “Do not love the world” (1 John 2:15), obligates us to judge what is unacceptable and offensive to our heavenly Father. In order to say “’No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions” (Titus 2:12) we must judge right from wrong and good from evil.
If those who misapply Jesus’ command, “Do not judge,” have their way, ultimately we will lose our moral and theological standards. Anything goes might become an attitude embraced by many churches and individuals.
But who am I to judge? For the answer, read 1 Corinthians 5:12, 13; 10:14, 15; 11:31; 1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
