Does the Bible Say We Shouldn’t Judge Others?

I’m sure you have heard that more than once. Maybe it has been used against you to silence you. They will quote passages like Matthew 7 that say to not judging lest you be judged. There is even a clear illustration of not looking at the speck in your brother's eye while ignoring the plank in your own eye. There is a clear warning that before we start condemning someone else’s actions, we need to make sure our own lives are being held in check to God’s word. Our purpose of pointing out any wrong in our brother or sister is not to embarrass them or belittle them, but rather to redirect and restore them to God. This is why when a brother sins against us, we are to go to them one on one. Solve the issue so that it doesn’t drag the whole church down. If I wait to correct someone until my life is perfect, then I will not be able to address anything. Also, how can the brother that is sinning be restored unless someone will be bold enough to address it firmly, but gently. Does it make a difference whether the person is a believer or not. Yes. The unbeliever doesn’t believe God’s word. Therefore, if someone is caught in adultery and we call them out on it, they feel less shame because they don’t understand God's authority. The law is written on their hearts, but due to the hardness of hearts, it is often weak in its power to convict them. They need to know God and hunger to follow Him. Once the Spirit of God is at work in their hearts, He will convict them of that sin. I have met people that hate watching football. A large number of those people don’t know a lot about how the game is played. Why? If they don’t care about the game, what motivation do they have to learn how the game is played. When they love the game they will desire to know the rules. When we love God, we also desire to know His rules. We read in 1 Corinthians 5, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." Again, judging is not personal. It is not our law, but God’s. We don’t’ stand superior to others because we all need God’s mercy and grace too. Judging should be restorative. Father, Help us to love and restore the broken and defiant by Your word. Teach us to be gracious to all we meet. Amen