"Don't judge": What does this mean?

[nohself]

As Christians we are commanded not to judge. But what does it mean to not “judge” another? Most people I think take this to mean that we are not to label someone as “bad” or “evil.” That only God can make such a judgment. But take a look at the Bible and you’ll find St. Paul “judging” others in this manner left and right. This can’t be what “judging” means.

It seems to me that to “judge” someone means to assess not their character, but their soul, particularly in a negative light. In other words, to judge someone would mean to believe or say that someone was going to hell when they died. So judging is a presumption which we as human beings are not to make.

I believe that someone can rightfully be called bad or evil if their habits are bad or evil to an inordinate degree. For instance, a person consumed with money, who spends all their time collecting and hogging their money for themselves, without charity for other human beings, is a bad person. Someone who habitually rapes other people is a bad person. Someone who robs banks is a bad person. Someone who is entirely selfish and demanding is a bad person.

You are what you do. I think we can “judge” character; we just can’t judge destiny.

Jamie

 

[Lance]

I think it means condemn the sin not the sinner.

 

[nohself]

Lance:

I think it means condemn the sin not the sinner.

I think we are called to love the sinner and not the sin, but if we’re forbidden from condemning the sinner then we could never condemn someone to a prison sentence!

Jamie

 

[JimO]

nohself:

You are what you do. I think we can “judge” character; we just can’t judge destiny.

Jamie

I find that when someone says, “Don’t judge me.” they really mean, “Don’t point out the truth to me.” We are called to discern truth from error and are instructed to point out error to our brothers and sisters and even to unbelievers.

The great “sin” in secular society today is to say to someone, “You are wrong.” They call it intolerance or judging.

I think that improper judging comes into play when one begins to attack the person and not the behavior. The saying, “hate the sin and love the sinner” applies here. We cannot know someone’s heart or their intentions - only God can go there, so we cannot comment on that – it would be improper “judging”. However, we can, and should, and are encouraged to point out sinful behavior and actions.

Just my opinion…

 

[Lance]

nohself:

I think we are called to love the sinner and not the sin, but if we’re forbidden from condemning the sinner then we could never condemn someone to a prison sentence!

Jamie

Yes we can. We must all pay the price for our sins, God forgives us when we ask him yet we, or at least most of us, will spend time in purgatory to atone for our sins. We not only have a right but we have a Christian duty to protect our families and neighbors and one of the ways we do this is by sending criminals to prison.

 

[trevor]

It is true that the most important relationship we will ever have is with God, but we have a responsibility to our fellow brothers and sisters to help them if they fall or stray from the right path given to us by Jesus. This can be done with a word, gesture, example.

It’s when we let others actions consume us that we begin to judge harshly. I have fallen into this trap many times. I get out of it by remembering that we are all brothers and sisters. If I really need to wake up, I remind myself that I will be judged according to how I judged others.

Thanks for the post,
Trevor

 

[Lisa4Catholics]

One of the spiritually works of mercy is to instruct the sinner.If we didn’t discern sinful acts we would be in a mess.If someone is sinning it is our duty to talk to the person about it with love and charity.People call that judging sometimes but that is not what Our Lord meant.We can’t judge the person, we are called to discern sin.God Bless

 

[JimG]

We can never judge the state of another person’s soul. That is for God alone. But we can judge facts–otherwise we could never serve on a jury–and we can judge the rightness or wrongness of actions. And we can judge a person’s character by his actions, without knowing the state of his soul.

(As an aside, I might note that in the sacrament of confession the penitent acts as his own accuser and jury. He has already judged the state of his soul and found it wanting, and now seeks forgiveness from the Lord.)

 

[Lisa_N]

I think the thought ‘judge not lest ye be judged’ means that before we criticize or judge another’s actions we look at ourselves with clarity and decide if our own house needs a bit of straightening before we pick up a broom and sweep somewhere else.

OTOH the idea that we DONT judge anyone or any judgement is by definition perjorative is utterly ridiculous.

Lisa N

 

[Almeria]

nohself:

I believe that someone can rightfully be called bad or evil if their habits are bad or evil to an inordinate degree. For instance, a person consumed with money, who spends all their time collecting and hogging their money for themselves, without charity for other human beings, is a bad person. Someone who habitually rapes other people is a bad person. Someone who robs banks is a bad person. Someone who is entirely selfish and demanding is a bad person.

I was reading an article just the other day on classifying some people as evil, actually. (wilmingtonstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050208/ZNYT04/502080308/1010/STATE)

Among themselves, a few forensic scientists have taken to thinking of these people [serial killers] as not merely disturbed but evil. Evil in that their deliberate, habitual savagery defies any psychological explanation or attempt at treatment.

If you hear the stories of some of the more violent serial killers out there, it’s really hard not to think that these people are the embodiment of the term evil. It’s all too easy to judge such individuals. The better part of me tries to not judge their destiny, but I’d honestly be very surprised to see many of them in heaven.

 

[maendem]

Lance:

We must all pay the price for our sins.

No. Christ already did that. But we do have to take responsibility, and help others do the same.

 

[Island_Oak]

JimO:

I find that when someone says, “Don’t judge me.” they really mean, “Don’t point out the truth to me.” We are called to discern truth from error and are instructed to point out error to our brothers and sisters and even to unbelievers.

The great “sin” in secular society today is to say to someone, “You are wrong.” They call it intolerance or judging…

Well put. Our society seems to have dismissed the notion that there are moral truths. I think it often comes down to expediency and/or intellectual and moral laziness. Not all truth is apparent to the immature or the ignorant, and like most social skills and responsibilities, it must be taught and modeled in order to take root.

 

[theMutant]

We are not to judge the state of another’s soul but we can judge their acts. We must always remember the corrolary to that command as well; for as you judge another so shall you be judged. In other words, don’t be a hypocrite.

 

[yinekka]

I think it is something that liberal priests have fastened on to , that and ‘pharisism’ to excuse themselves from ever mentioning that anyone can ever commit a sin, that there is hell, that we ‘have to work out our salvation in fear and trembling’. This then leaves them free to preach, Sunday after Sunday after Sunday ‘God lurvs you’.

 

[DaveBj]

I got into a big brou-ha-ha on this very subject back in my previous life, which was a guv’mint job with a very high security clearance. I mentioned that I would have trouble giving a security clearance to someone that I knew to be running around on his wife, because if he could break a promise as solemn as the one he made when he married her (assuming he went through the normal rituals), then how could he be trusted to keep a promise to guard national secrets.

Boy, did I get my stuff jumped into be everyone who was listening. “How dare you–don’t you know what the Bible says–judge not?”

It was an educating experience.

DaveBj

 

[Lance]

DaveBj:

I got into a big brou-ha-ha on this very subject back in my previous life, which was a guv’mint job with a very high security clearance. I mentioned that I would have trouble giving a security clearance to someone that I knew to be running around on his wife, because if he could break a promise as solemn as the one he made when he married her (assuming he went through the normal rituals), then how could he be trusted to keep a promise to guard national secrets.

Boy, did I get my stuff jumped into be everyone who was listening. “How dare you–don’t you know what the Bible says–judge not?”

It was an educating experience.

DaveBj

Even though you got slammed I think you are right. If a man’s wife can’t trust him I wouldn’t either.

 

[JimO]

DaveBj:

I got into a big brou-ha-ha on this very subject back in my previous life, which was a guv’mint job with a very high security clearance. I mentioned that I would have trouble giving a security clearance to someone that I knew to be running around on his wife, because if he could break a promise as solemn as the one he made when he married her (assuming he went through the normal rituals), then how could he be trusted to keep a promise to guard national secrets.

Boy, did I get my stuff jumped into be everyone who was listening. “How dare you–don’t you know what the Bible says–judge not?”

It was an educating experience.

DaveBj

Excellent! You did the right thing. I feel the same way. If someone cheats on their spouse, then they’ll likely cheat on their taxes, lie, steal or whatever, if it suits their desires.

I take a lot of heat too for holding this opinion, but it’s an opinion for which I don’t mind taking heat.

Having said that, however, if the person repents they must be given a chance to restore their character.

 

[felra]

DaveBj:

I got into a big brou-ha-ha on this very subject back in my previous life, which was a guv’mint job with a very high security clearance. I mentioned that I would have trouble giving a security clearance to someone that I knew to be running around on his wife, because if he could break a promise as solemn as the one he made when he married her (assuming he went through the normal rituals), then how could he be trusted to keep a promise to guard national secrets.

Boy, did I get my stuff jumped into be everyone who was listening. “How dare you–don’t you know what the Bible says–judge not?”

It was an educating experience.

DaveBj

My father-in-law made it a practice with his partner in their private consulting company to not do buisness with anyone that was known to have cheated on their wife. How is that for honoring traditional values.

 

[DaveBj]

felra:

My father-in-law made it a practice with his partner in their private consulting company to not do buisness with anyone that was known to have cheated on their wife. How is that for honoring traditional values.

:yup: :clapping: and

DaveBj

 

[Katholikos]

maendem:

No. Christ already did that [pay the price for our sins]. But we do have to take responsibility, and help others do the same.

Just to be clear – may I add that Christ’s sacrifice “opened the gates of heaven” for us and made our salvation possible. But salvation is not ours automatically. He removes the guilt of our sins if we repent and ask for forgiveness. But there is still a penalty for every sin that must be paid by every person, even for forgiven sin. It’s called the “temporal punishment due to sin.” We either “pay” the penalty for our sins in this life through penance and almsgiving or we “pay” the penalty in Purgatory, where our souls are purified. Nobody skates.

JMJ Jay