Concerning Judgment

Recently, I read some comments on a Facebook post with which I vehemently disagreed.  Let me clarify: I agreed with the original post, but not with some of the comments that were in contradiction with the original post.  Specifically, here is one of the comments that I disagreed with and I chose it because it depicts an attitude that needs to be addressed: “This post is dripping with judgment and dangerous over-generalization.”

The attitude that I want to address is my own, because my initial reaction was this: in making this observation and declaring judgment to be wrong, this person made a judgment.  However, I was incorrect in my assessment.  Please do not stop reading here, but rather consider the evidence included through the duration of this article.

Consider the following definition:

Judge:[1]

Transitive Verb

• To form an opinion about through careful weighing of evidence and testing of premises.
• To sit in judgment on
• To determine or pronounce after inquiry and deliberation
• Govern, rule – used of a Hebrew tribal leader
• To form an estimate or evaluation of; especially: to form a negative opinion about <shouldn’t judge him because of his accent>
• To hold as an opinion

Intransitive Verb

• To form an opinion
• To decide as a judge

According to Merriam-Webster, the main definition of “judge” is an opinion formed through the careful preponderance of evidence and fact, and the definition that many people utilize (albeit incorrectly) comes in at fifth place.  Note, however, that even though the 5^th definition includes “forming a negative opinion” of someone or something, it is still based on the preponderance of evidence (“estimate or evaluation of”) and the example used denotes a lack of this careful thought. 

Consider also this definition:

 Judgment:[2]

• An opinion or decision that is based on careful thought
• The act or process of forming an opinion or making a decision after careful thought: the act of judging something or someone
• The ability to make good decisions about what should be done

There are a number of different definitions for “judgment,” and each is applicable in a specific context (for instance, the comment quoted at the beginning obviously is not speaking about a decision made by a court).  Note that Merriam-Webster states that a judgment is “based on careful thought,” it is a decision formed “after careful thought,” and that it is “the ability to make good decisions about what should be done.”  The common theme throughout the definition of both “judge” and “judgment” is “careful thought,” “evidence,” and “inquiry and deliberation.”  All of these words lend credence to the idea that the person forming a true judgment has exercised due diligence to evidence and has carefully weighed said evidence in order to come to a logical conclusion.

Therefore, when the writer stated that the post was “dripping with judgment,” he was correct.  Although this person meant it as a negative thing, by definition it is correct.  However, I was incorrect in assuming that this person made a judgment in return; if such a person states that they did not make a judgment, why argue? If evidence has not been carefully considered and an opinion is formed without a solid foundation, then a true judgment has not been formed. 

Frequently, people reference Matthew 7:1 in their efforts to condemn judgment, but that approach fully neglects the context of this statement.  In fact, the use of “Judge not” by Jesus fits perfectly well the aforementioned definitions; “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (7:2).  We are all judged by the word of God (John 12:44-50), which is the only measure by which we ought to judge concerning spiritual things.  If we seek to guide ourselves apart from the word of God, then we are not truly making judgments (there is no preponderance of evidence) and we fit better with Jeremiah 10:23.

Judgment is not only authorized by God, but is shown via Apostolic example and is commanded, just as encouragement (which many people want at the expense of righteousness), refutation of false doctrines, and the rebuke of those in sin (which inherently requires proper judgment based on the Scriptures).  Consider 1 Corinthians 5, 1 Corinthians 11 (note that Paul makes two judgments in 1 Corinthians 11…one in which he judged them as correctly executing God’s command and one in which he judged them as not following God’s command), and 2 Timothy 4:1-5.  Inherent in each of these passages is that the judgment is based upon the authority of God, not man (note that Paul even states in 1 Corinthians 5:3 that he has already judged the erring brother as though he were present). 

With this in mind, it is obvious that when someone holds a view in contradiction to the Bible (note that I did not say a view in contradiction to a man), they have not made a judgment in accordance with the proper definition.   In other words, they have not carefully considered the evidence and drawn a logical conclusion based upon the authority of God, but have given more credence to their own desires (Jeremiah 10:23).  No longer should we argue that such people have formed a judgment!   

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[1] "Judge." Merriam-Webster.com. Accessed December 26, 2014. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/judge.

[2] "Judgment." Merriam-Webster.com. Accessed December 26, 2014. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/judgment.