Can A Christian Judge?

Can A Christian Judge?

Let's look at the book of John, "Do not judge by appearances, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24). So yes a Christian can judge, but as the verse says, it must be righteous judgment. What is righteous judgment?  Let's now look at Matthew,  "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother" (Matthew 18:15). This is an example of righteous judgment. Judging righteously means to judge correctly or kindly. 

Example~

"What Are You Wearing Ewww!" This would be an example of judging unrighteously. 

Judging righteously is taking a person aside and helping them see their wrongs, not mocking them or screaming their sins from a rooftop.

A common objection to this is in Matthew, "Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matthew 7:1). Yet, this verse is taken out of context. Let's read the rest of the passage. "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye," (Matthew 7:1-5). If we read the entire passage, we see that it is speaking about hypocrites. 

In Paul's epistles(letters) he gives us three specific people to judge(of course this being of righteous judgment). "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator(An unmarried person who commits intercoursal acts), or covetous(An envious person), or an idolator, or a railer(Someone who uses harsh speech when explaining objections), or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person," (1 Corinthians 5:11-13 KJV). This means, one should not support one who, "... is called a brother ..." yet is "...a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortion," (1 Corinthians 5:11 KJV). The actions of a brother or sister in Christ that are not of Christ are to be judged.

One should also "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates(i.e. an unprincipled person)?" (2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV). A person is to always examine themself, to make sure their actions align with our Lord, Jesus the Christ.