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Seeing Clearly: How to Judge Without Condemning

In a world where everyone seems to have an opinion about everything, how do we navigate the tension between discernment and judgment? The answer lies in learning to see clearly through God's eyes rather than our own limited perspective.

What Does "Judge Not" Really Mean?

When Jesus said "judge not that you be not judged" in Matthew 7:1-5, He wasn't telling us to never evaluate situations or use discernment. The Greek word used here is "krino," which can mean to discern, decide, or condemn. The key distinction is between healthy discernment and destructive condemnation.
The passage is actually warning against hypocrisy - condemning others while excusing ourselves for similar or worse behaviors. It's about recognizing that the same God who forgives us also forgives everyone else, including those we might prefer He didn't.


Why Are We So Quick to Judge?

Our tendency to judge harshly goes back to the Garden of Eden. When humanity ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, we began thinking we could judge rightly on matters and be like God. We've been failing at this attempt ever since. The truth is, without God, it's impossible to see situations and people clearly. We need His perspective to navigate relationships and conflicts properly.

How Should We See Other People?

There are really only two types of people in the world: those who have received God's goodness and those who haven't yet. This perspective changes everything about how we interact with others.
When we remember that we were once "ungodly," "sinners," and "enemies of God" (Romans 5:6-10), yet Christ died for us anyway, it should fill us with gratitude and help us extend that same grace to others. Anyone we're upset with right now could become our brother or sister in Christ - they may already be.

The story of Philemon and Onesimus provides a powerful example. Onesimus was a runaway slave who had wronged his master Philemon. Yet Paul instructed Philemon to receive Onesimus back not as a slave, but as a brother. Yes, Onesimus was wrong. Yes, he owed money and had committed a crime. But God's way of seeing things is different. We don't get our pound of flesh or our moment of vindication. We get to say, "That's my brother" or "That's my sister."

The Ministry of Reconciliation

According to 2 Corinthians 5:14-20, we've been given the ministry of reconciliation. God has decided to reconcile people to Himself - not counting their trespasses against them. This is the judgment we need to be sharing with the world. In the sharing our opinions and frustrations, which are often valid and important, we should never neglect our primary task - being God's ambassador. We're the ones who make the invitation on God's behalf to a broken world to be reconciled to God.

How This Changes Our Relationships

This might be obvious once we see it, but we often don't see that choosing our spiritual family was never in our control- Jesus gets to decide that. Just like we can't choose our biological family, we can't choose who becomes our brother or sister in Christ. Our choice lies in committing to fellowship with one another and love each other the same way Christ loved us. This means treating each other differently than the world does. If we look exactly like everyone else when resolving conflicts, we remove one of the main reasons for others to trust in God or enter His kingdom - our example. This brings us back to our main mission: representing God's kingdom as ambassadors well. 


Life Application

This week, practice seeing people through God's eyes rather than your own. Before speaking critically about someone or condemning their actions, ask yourself: "Is this how the Lord would see this person? Is this how He would approach this situation?" Remember that your role is not to be the judge, but to be an ambassador of reconciliation. Focus on sharing the message that God wants to reconcile people to Himself rather than spreading your personal opinions about their choices.

Questions for Reflection:

  1. Who in your life do you need to stop condemning and start seeing as God sees them?
  2. How can you be an ambassador of reconciliation in your current relationships and conflicts?
  3. What judgments are you holding onto that you need to surrender to God's perfect judgment instead?