5 Keys on HOW To Correctly Judge

Have you ever asked yourself the following questions?...

Am I allowed to judge?

When is it okay to judge someone?

Why do people judge others?

How should one judge in the Church?

We are living in a season and time where this subject is of the utmost importance, because men and women – both saved and unsaved – have a false perception of judging. This subject is one of the most misunderstood subjects in the Bible, simply because of how many have abused that which God instituted.

I have seen so many Christians misjudge others, step out of their rule, and even fail to judge when they should have – and this includes those in leadership over ministries in congregations.

The fact is that God instituted judgement, but it must be exercised correctly.

So how does it get exercised correctly? How do you know whether you or the one which is over you is judging after the Spirit or after the flesh?

This topic is of great importance because many believers judge, and they act contrary to what scripture says. We have seen so many believers that will judge other believers without thinking twice, but the very moment that they are being judged, they will respond by saying:

“YOU ARE NOW ALLOWED TO JUDGE!”

When can we judge?

If you study the Word, you will see that there are many scriptures that state that you are not allowed to judge, and then you will find just as many that states that we should judge.

So which ones do you follow?

To get your answer to this question – you need to understand certain aspects regarding this subject and the Kingdom of God.

1. Judging must be done according to God’s viewpoint and not from a natural viewpoint.

 Natural Viewpoint

Understand that there is a principle that originates from Heaven that we need to follow here on earth as His local government office, and this principle clearly states that judging is a function of ruling, originally initiated by God.

²² For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.

Isaiah 33:22 (KJV)

There are 3 arms of any Government:

1. Judiciary – Judge
2. Legislation – Lawgiver, this is to do with parliament where laws are made.
3. Executive – The President (King)

There is however a key in the above scripture that is not followed in our natural constitution that causes many believers to become confused and then also find it hard to understand the topic of judging because of the way that our natural constitution is conducted.

• Our natural constitution separates ruling from judging.
• The executive branch rules and the judicial branch judges. This, however, is not according to scripture.

It is very important for you to understand that we are not attacking the constitution. We will do everything in our capacity to uphold the constitution, but as long as you look at the government’s perspective on judging, you will never understand God’s point of view on it.

 God’s Viewpoint

• The above scripture clearly states that the Lord is the judge, lawgiver and king.
• This scripture, like many others, always unites the two responsibilities of ruling and judging.

Through the history of Israel, we see how Ruling and Judging were never separated from one another.

The book of Judges is the 1^st book that describes those who ruled over Israel. The judges were Israel’s rulers, and later on, the rulers became the judges.

Judging and Ruling were never separated! 

2. Judging Must Always Be Just.

²⁵ Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

Genesis 18:25 (NKJV)

God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.
² How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah
³ Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy.

Psalms 82:1-3 (NKJV)

It is imperative to discern when you judge, that your judgement is done according to the Word of God and led by the Holy Spirit.

The above verses states three very important principles that we need to understand in terms of when to judge:

• 1^st - It states that Judgement comes from God as He is the Ruler and Judge of all the earth. We must submit to God’s constitution.
• 2^nd - It states that it will be contrary to God’s Word and His justice system to treat the righteous as the wicked
• 3^rd - The primary function of judging is to protect the righteous.

3. Your Level of Judgment is Dependant on Your Level of Responsibility.

This is a principle that applies to everyone that has been given any type of responsibility to rule. With that responsibly to Rule they must also be given the authority to Judge.

Responsibility and authority can never be separated.

This means that:

• Where we have the responsibility to rule, we also have the authority to judge.
• Responsibility without Authority is will be ineffective
• Your level of responsibility will determine your level of authority which determines what you can or cannot judge.

4. When Is It Not Our Responsibility To Judge?

We are not allowed to judge any one’s character, including our own. This means that we can judge deeds, actions and responsibilities, but not people; and even this can be done in two ways.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NKJV)

¹ Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. ² Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

Now the word “steward” touches on the topic of judgement, because a steward needs to give an account of his conduct to the one that he submits to.

This means that he will be judged according to whether or not he has been faithful in what was entrusted to him. This clearly states that he will be judged according to responsibilities that were given him.

Now even when it comes to judging responsibilities, deeds or actions, it must be done by the leading of the Holy Spirit and according to the Word of God.

Understand that you can judge either out of the nature of the flesh or out your spirit that is led by the Holy Spirit, and the difference between the two is what will determine whether or not your judgement is in line with the Word of God.

7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. ³ And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? ⁴ Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:1-5 (NKJV)

This scripture makes it clear that you must first deal with your own heart before you can deal with someone else’s, we are living in a time were a lot of people judge other people but they themselves are battling with the same sins and problems that the person is struggling with.

When we judge by the leading of the Spirit, it will always be to heal, restore and to protect.

5. We are responsible to judge our own personal conduct and relationships.

²⁸ But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. ³⁰ For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep (meaning that meaning died untimely) ³¹ For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

 1 Corinthians 11:28-31 (NKJV)

The phrase “let a man examine himself” means that “let a man judge himself”

This is a powerful statement meaning that if we judge ourselves then God won’t judge us.

We are responsible, then, to judge our own conduct and relationships. And if we judge ourselves by the Word of God, bringing our lives into line with His Word, then God has nothing to judge us for.

We are never allowed to judge other believers if we ourselves are not clean in our hearts.

When God looks at us, He never sees any evil. He sees someone who is created in the image and the likeness of God. He sees someone who is washed clean by the blood of Christ.

Here are some questions that you can ask in judging yourself:

Am I at peace with my brother and sister?

Do I harbour bitterness or resentment in my heart?

Have I spoken evil of my fellow believers? Have I said things about them that were untrue?

If we would take seriously our responsibility to judge ourselves, we would have less time to judge others whom we are not supposed to judge!

As a result, we would not bring judgement upon ourselves.