Don't Judge Me

There is a notion not only in popular culture but also in Christian culture that frowns upon "judging". To judge is to condemn, to be "judgmental", to essentially hate. So don't judge, the culture tells us. Love everyone. Tolerate. "Do not judge, lest ye be judged," we Christians say, vaguely recalling something Jesus said about a speck and a log.

Yet to fail to judge is to have no standards, to have no sense of right and wrong. Or, if there is a right and wrong, to be tolerant is to ignore biblical moral standards in the name of "love". Where does this leave us as Christians? Since we can never wholly remove the log that obscures our view of our neighbor's speck, are we destined to attempt prying that obnoxious log out while blissfully ignoring everything wrong in the culture and world?

Although Jesus did say "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Matthew 7:1), He also said, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7: 24). We must, as Christians, distinguish between right and wrong, between good and evil, between beautiful and ugly, and apply those differences to our lives. But not according to appearance. Not according to how culture stereotypes it. Not according to hearsay. But with righteous judgment.

A simple question to ask in determining if something is worth our time and thought is, Does this glorify God? If Jesus was here with me right now, would this bring joy to his heart too?