In today's world, judgment is a dirty word. Too many people remember the first part of Matthew 7:1, which says "Judge not, that you be not judged" and forget verse 2 which says, "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."

Even among many of us in the Church, judging seems like a dirty word. We have been influenced by the world around us, which encourages a bland toleration (if not rejoicing) in all manner of sins, from abortion to homosexuality. The only thing that is not tolerated is judgment. Therefore, it is useful for us to look briefly at a few scriptures about righteous judgment. By understanding what the Bible says about judging, we are better able to live the Christian life as we should.

At first glance, James 4:11-12 would seem to suggest that we are not to judge anything involving our fellow brethren at all. However, the context of this verse is speaking evil (presumably maliciously) about those who keep the law. We cannot judge what is in someone's heart, but we can (and should) judge what they do. We cannot make railing condemnations, but we should confront evil when we see it.

The greater context of James 4 refers to humility (James 4:7-10) as contrasted with boasting (James 4:13-17), which seems to suggest that the judging condemned by James is not righteous judgment at all. This becomes more clear as we look at the next passage involving judgment.

In 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 Paul refers to the unnamed Corinthian man who was committing incest with his stepmother, and Paul tells the Corinthians that they should have disfellowshipped the man because of his flagrant and habitual sin. However, the Corinthians, much like the people of our day, gloried in their tolerance of such a person. Paul was not pleased at this, and neither should we be.

Immediately after this, Paul proceeds to write on other matters of judging. In 1 Corinthians 6:1-6 is perhaps the strongest injunction for believers to judge, for we will judge the world and angels, and we might as well become skilled now.

Some of us, no doubt, judge poorly or judge too often, but we should (as Christians) be capable of judging matters between brethren when called on to do so.

Given the extreme seriousness of the matter, we all need to study the Bible to determine what is and what is not sin. Furthermore, we should not hesitate to comment on wrong when we are presented with people who are proud in their faults.

We should not make judgment an obvious matter that would seem to bring glory to ourselves, but we should confront sins in private (wherever possible) and judge impartially.

I hope it will not be said of us as it was said of the Corinthians that we were so tolerant of sin that there was not one wise man among us capable of righteous judgment.