Is it wrong to Judge Another Person’s Religious Beliefs?
When a person says that it is wrong to judge, then such
a person is a hypocrite, for he is guilty of the very thing he
condemns. Is he not making a judgment as to what should
or should not be done?
Many will appeal to the words of Jesus in Matt. 7:1,
wherein Jesus declared, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
However, this is not a prohibition against all judging. In the
context, it is clear that Jesus was condemning a certain type
of judging and that is hypocritical judging. In v. 5, Jesus
authorized judgment. He said, “Thou hypocrite, first cast out
the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to
cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
Throughout Matthew 7, Jesus spoke a number of things
that implies having to make judgments. In v. 15-20, Jesus
spoke of false prophets. He said, “Ye shall know them by their
fruits” (v. 16). There is no way possible to be fruit inspectors
without making judgments.
In John 7:24, Jesus issued this command: “Judge not
according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” In
the context, the religious leaders of the day were guilty of
judging according to the appearance. However, Jesus
commanded them to “judge righteous judgment.” So, there is
such thing as making a righteous judgment. This is
judgment based upon the Word of God.
If Matt. 7:1 forbids one to test doctrines and teachings,
then Jesus violated his own law, for he repeatedly exposed
the falsities of the religious leaders of his day. John
declared in I John 4:1, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try
(or, test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world.” Paul stated in Eph. 5:11,
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,
but rather reprove (or expose) them.” False doctrines and
beliefs must be exposed for souls are at stake!