by Barbara Basmel

Created on: August 18, 2008

Judgement itself should not be considered as wrong or against Christian principles. I say this because the act of judgement plays a very important role in Christianity. Aside from the truth that God is the ultimate judge, we also know that after Jesus went up to heaven, he took his rightful place at the right hand side of God and from that judgement seat will judge the secret of all men's heart (Romans 2:16). We cannot totally cancel out judgement from Chrisitianity because it will be taking a way a part of the Bible just to suite ourselves.

There would also have been no need for physical judges in both the old and new testament if judgement was wrong. The need arises for al judge to determine wrong from right and give decisions concerning what should be done in many situations. This is why there are headships and leaders in every community. These people do not only direct the affairs of the community but also see to it that what is right is being practiced; hence the need for judgment. This might even mean punishing those who offend. In Pauls first letter to the Corinthians he admonished them to judge matters between themselves without bringing in outside parties because the saints shall judge the world and not vice versa(1 Cor 6:2-3). This tells me that judging others in the context of peace making is not against the principle of Christianity. There are bound to be times when the people of God might have differences between themselves... in cases as these the last thing one needs is to invite outside parties or worldly judges to come in. The leaders of the church should try and solve such situations. They must by the guiding of the Holy Spirit judge between the parties concerned and make the right decisions. In that context, judging is good.

Why is it that the Bible says 'Judge not,lest thou be judged?' How can judgement be right and wrong at the same time? Ponder on this: Judging others becomes wrong when in doing so one instills guilt instead of conviction into the judged. There certainly is a difference between guilt and conviction. The Holy Spirit convicts our hearts when we go wrong. Guilt is from the enemy and can destroy a person. It is the kind of feeling that eats into one so badly and can bring dire consequences. Whereas the conviction of the Spirit brings about repentance, guilt brings about condemnation. Heads and leaders are admonished in the Bible to correct those who are going off track and pray that the Spirit convicts them. But when in correction,

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