How to Judge Righteously in a Judgmental World

We live in a critical world, but few judge based on godly principles. The Bible gives us important standards about how we should judge.

You have probably heard the saying Everyone’s a critic. 

While often said tongue in cheek, it accurately describes the world we live in. Everything has a rating, and countless apps allow anyone to review a restaurant, event center or even an inexpensive product on Amazon.

It is certainly useful to pull out your phone and quickly search for the highest-rated hotels or restaurants along your road trip route. Yet not every review should be trusted.

Competitors can flood review sections with negative comments to steer customers toward their own businesses. Angry customers can publicly shame employees or management over a perceived bad experience. Passionate fan bases can “review bomb” television shows or movies simply because they dislike a story’s direction. There are even television channels devoted to  around-the-clock political criticism.

Why? Because criticism sells.

We human beings are naturally inclined to be critical. Children often begin displaying this tendency early in life. One of our earliest judgments may simply be, “That’s not fair.”

Since judging comes so naturally and permeates nearly every aspect of life, how do we avoid being consumed by a judgmental mindset?

Here are three principles we should consider whenever we make a judgment.

1. Judge in love

We cannot avoid making all judgments. What we can do is ensure that whenever we judge someone or something, we do so out of love.

Jesus taught His disciples not to “judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24).

Likewise, the priests in Leviticus 19:15 were told to “do no injustice in judgment” and to judge “in righteousness.”

We also know that God is love (1 John 4:8) and that obedience to His commandments demonstrates that love (John 14:15). Whenever we must make a judgment, we should first look to God and the example He has given us throughout Scripture.

It is also helpful to remember that when others criticize us or point out our faults, they may be doing so out of genuine love. Even if they aren’t, they may be right. Rather than taking immediate offense, we should pause and honestly consider whether their judgment is accurate.

Proverbs 13:18 reminds us that “poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored.”

2. Judge with patience

When God was preparing to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness, He paused to speak with Abraham. Abraham appealed to God’s mercy, asking whether the cities would be spared if 50 righteous people could be found. Then 45. Then 40. All the way down to 10 (Genesis 18:22-32).

God’s judgment was already perfect. He did not need Abraham’s counsel. Yet He patiently allowed Abraham to plead his case and even heeded his request so that Lot and his family might be spared, though it didn’t change the outcome for Sodom.

Later, God showed similar patience toward Nineveh. Although the city deserved destruction, the people repented in sackcloth and ashes, and God relented from the disaster He had planned. His patience gave them an opportunity to change (Jonah chapters 3 and 4).

We should imitate that same patience and mercy when judging our children, friends or brethren. Not every mistake requires immediate condemnation. Sometimes people simply need time, instruction and the opportunity to change.

Perhaps one of the greatest examples of enduring unfair judgment is Job. After Job had suffered more in a short time than the vast majority of people experience in an entire lifetime, his friends concluded that he must have sinned against God. Rather than comforting him, they repeatedly judged him.

At first, Job faithfully endured both his suffering and their accusations. Yet soon he was worn down by continual criticism.

We will experience unfair judgments and unjust accusations throughout our lives. We are reminded to “count it all joy” when we encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience and spiritual maturity (James 1:2-4).

3. Judge with wisdom

The Bible adopts an interesting motif in its accounts of the kings of Israel and Judah. Some “did what was right in the sight of the LORD,” while others “did evil in the sight of the LORD.” The blessings or consequences that followed reflected those choices.

God reminds us that His thoughts and His ways are far higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). We can understand only a small portion of His perfect wisdom with our finite minds. Yet our Creator loves us and has not left us without guidance.

When Solomon was given the opportunity to ask God for anything, he did not request riches, long life or victory over his enemies. Instead, he asked for “an understanding heart” so that he could judge God’s people properly (1 Kings 3:9). He knew he needed wisdom and discernment (verses 11-12). 

Scripture records that all Israel heard of Solomon’s judgments and saw that “the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice” (verse 28).

We can ask for that same wisdom (James 1:5; 3:17). Through prayer, we may seek God’s guidance for a specific decision or simply ask Him to develop wisdom within us. Christ assures us that our Father willingly gives good gifts to those who ask Him in faith (Luke 11:9-13).

Every day we have opportunities to use the godly wisdom God offers His people. In a world filled with criticism, outrage and quick opinions, Christians should stand apart..

May every judgment we make be guided by love, tempered with patience and grounded in the wisdom that comes from God.