When is judgment sinful?
Introduction. The questioner does well to presuppose that not all judgment is sinful. In fact, Jesus requires judgment, righteous judgment. Hear Him: "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7: 24). Notice required judgment is "righteous" which suggests the existence of unrighteous judgment.
Subjective judgment. "I feel such is wrong (or right) within my heart," some say. People who thus judge are guilty of subjective judgment. The wise man wrote: "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool" (Prov. 28: 26). In using such an individual, subjective standard of judgment, people can seldom agree. We are to "walk wisely," using God's word as the standard (Prov. 28: 26; John 12: 48).
Assuming the role of a judge. Jesus said, "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5: 22). You or I must not act as final judge (Jas. 4: 11, 12). This is not to say that we are not to apply God's word, coupled with all relevant facts, and determine the rightness or wrongness of a matter (cf. 1 John 4: 1; Eph. 5: 10-11).
Judgment based on the assignment of motives. God knows men's hearts (John 2: 25); however, we do not know the thoughts of others (1 Cor. 2: 11). Instead of attempting to assign motives, we are to judge others' fruit or actions (Matt. 7: 15-20).
There are several additional ways in which we can render sinful judgment. Superficial judgment (judging without knowing all the facts, John 7: 24) is wrong. Judgment made as a result of prejudice is forbidden (Prov. 18: 13). Of course, there is always judgmental judgment, that is, judging, especially condemning, just because of extreme negativity (be careful not to assign motives, though).
Subjective judgment. "I feel such is wrong (or right) within my heart," some say. People who thus judge are guilty of subjective judgment. The wise man wrote: "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool" (Prov. 28: 26). In using such an individual, subjective standard of judgment, people can seldom agree. We are to "walk wisely," using God's word as the standard (Prov. 28: 26; John 12: 48).
Assuming the role of a judge. Jesus said, "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5: 22). You or I must not act as final judge (Jas. 4: 11, 12). This is not to say that we are not to apply God's word, coupled with all relevant facts, and determine the rightness or wrongness of a matter (cf. 1 John 4: 1; Eph. 5: 10-11).
Judgment based on the assignment of motives. God knows men's hearts (John 2: 25); however, we do not know the thoughts of others (1 Cor. 2: 11). Instead of attempting to assign motives, we are to judge others' fruit or actions (Matt. 7: 15-20).
There are several additional ways in which we can render sinful judgment. Superficial judgment (judging without knowing all the facts, John 7: 24) is wrong. Judgment made as a result of prejudice is forbidden (Prov. 18: 13). Of course, there is always judgmental judgment, that is, judging, especially condemning, just because of extreme negativity (be careful not to assign motives, though).