by Diana Howard

Created on: August 16, 2008   Last Updated: June 15, 2011

The answer to this question is comlex and deserves both a yes and a no answer. Whether or not it is against Christian principles to judge others, is soley determined on what you mean by the word "judge" and who is to be judged..  The term to "judge" can mean several things, just as the word "trunk" can mean a suitcase, an elephant's nose, the back end of a car or the main part of a tree. The word judge, as a verb, is rendered in the Online Dictionary as:

1. To form an opinion or estimation of after careful consideration: judge heights; judging character. 2. a. Law To hear and decide on in a court of law; try: judge a case. b. Obsolete To pass sentence on; condemn. c. To act as one appointed to decide the winners of: judge an essay contest. 3. To determine or declare after consideration or deliberation. 4. Informal To have as an opinion or assumption; suppose: I judge you're right.

According to these definitions, in various portions of Scripture, most notably Matthew 7:1, we Christians are instructed not to "judge" others.

Matt 7:1-5 (NLT)1 "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. 3 "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own?4 How can you think of saying to your friend, Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye?5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.

This Scripture speaks a resounding "no"  to blatant criticism  and condemnation, especially  for the sake of compariing ouselves to another individual's own righteousness. That is definitely prohibited. We are not in authority over others, so we cannot judge them as in a court of law.  In fact, we, as Christians, are not to compare ourselves  to other Christians, but only to Christ, to see if we are following our Master as He would have us do.   On the other hand, there are far more Scriptures that define the parameters by which Christians are to "judge" and this does include judging the behavior of "others" in special circumstances.  This is the "yes" part of the answer.   In fact, in these passages we are commanded  to "judge". The manner and circumstance in which judgment is meted out is clearly defined.

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