Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; band with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. Matthew 7:1-2
This is a common refrain from those who wish to live in whatever ways they please without interference from others. Countless people have lived and died by this philosophy while branding all efforts to turn them to the way of truth as judgmental. Those who have so lived and died already know the verdict from the God who alone can judge them (Luke 16:19-31). Though I cannot speak for those who have done so, I imagine if they could do it over again, they would take a different approach.
This way of life should come as no surprise from the people of the world, but it is sadly a growing attitude within the body of Christ. The notion comes from a misunderstanding and misapplication of Matthew 7:1-2 without consideration of the rest of the immediate or remote context of this passage. This passage is often projected as an impenetrable wall protecting the sinful behaviors of the individual from all correction or confrontation. However, even the verses that follow make it clear that, though no person can decide the eternal destination of another, Christians are called upon to make judgment calls about sinful behaviors and attempt to correct such behaviors before it is too late.
There are many biblical reasons to reject the position described in the title above and readily accept correction when it is biblically demonstrable that we are in the wrong. The first is found in Matthew 7:1-5. Jesus’ warning here is not against making moral determinations about the actions of our brethren, but it is against harsh judgment and hypocrisy. He did not say, “You have a plank in your eye, so leave the speck in your brother’s eye forever.” He said, “First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (vs. 5). In John 7:24, Jesus said not to judge by appearances but to “…judge righteous judgment.” Jesus also commanded that we confront those who sin against us which demands we make moral judgments about the actions of another (Matthew 18:15-18; Luke 17:3-4).
The words of the New Testament writers agree. Paul told the Galatians to restore the erring from their ways (Galatians 6:1-2). James told his readers that the one who turned the wanderer back from his error would save their soul from death and hide a multitude of sins (James 5:19-20). Jude told his readers to snatch the one who was caught in sin’s snare out of the fire (Jude 22-23). Without making moral determinations, none of us can keep these clear directives. In each of these passages, care for the soul of the erring is the central idea. It is not unloving to correct error. It is unloving to leave one to die in it. Though it is true only God can judge us, it is equally true that He expects us to bear one another’s burdens in this life (Galatians 6:2).