6 Reasons Why It’s OK to Judge

“Hey, stop judging me! You can’t judge me and my beliefs!” How many times have we heard something like this? The implication of such exclamations are clear: someone’s personal beliefs about religion or morality are off limits—they cannot be discerned to be right or wrong. Beliefs are subjective and thus true for some and not others. Such a sentiment fences off one’s beliefs from being analyzed and weighed for validity. But is it true that we should not judge others' beliefs? Are religious and moral beliefs really just personal opinions? I suggest we all ought to judge people and their beliefs, and it’s o.k. Really. Here are six reasons why.

1. A real world exists

For one thing, a real world exists outside one’s own perceptions. If you disagree, just try driving your car into a tree which you believe is not there (but really is) and see what happens. It doesn’t matter whether you perceive or believe a tree to be there. If it is in fact there, you will run into it, and the car (and perhaps even yourself) will be damaged or hurt. Humans cannot escape the reality of an independent existing world outside themselves. Since a real world exists, we ought to judge whether one’s perceptions of it are correct, especially if it involves life and death issues. So, we ought to judge. Most people would rather be alive than dead.

1. Some actions are really wrong

Just like a real objective world exists outside of ourselves, objective morally right and wrong exist apart from our beliefs. Granted, it is popular today to believe in moral relativism—the idea that there is no right and wrong that everyone must live by. I have my ethics; you have yours. This idea, however, is not true. It does not matter who you are, everyone believes that murder, rape, and torturing babies for fun are morally wrong actions. C.S. Lewis once observed how the world holds a common understanding of right and wrong: “Think of a country where people were admired for running away in battle, or worry a man felt proud of double crossing all the people who had been kindest to him. We might just as well try to imagine a country where two and two make five.” To use a more specific example, imagine a world in which moral relativism was true: it would logically follow that the atrocities committed by Pol Pot, Hitler, Stalin, and numerous others would be morally permissible and not wrong. As such, no consequence should follow from such actions. It would be a stalemate: my opinion against yours and no one is right or wrong. But even if someone were to believe that murder is right, it would not make it right. People’s beliefs about ethics can be wrong just like a belief that the moon is made of cheese would be wrong. I could also be wrong about ethics. I am not perfect, and I would like to know where I need to improve upon my moral character. So, let us judge each other’s actions, not just for the sake of each other but for the sake of having a civil society.

1. Judging can’t be avoided

Everyone makes judgments every day. Although it’s popular to say, “Do not judge,” no one really accepts this idea. If they did, they would live like it was true. But the don't. They judge all the time (see social media). Even those who express the idea in fact judge: “Do not judge” is a judgment. Judging is an aspect of being human and is unavoidable. For example, when you go to a restaurant, you judge between menu items and weigh which entre would be the best. Likewise, people choose religious beliefs by judging between religions. If a religion claims to save you from sin, as Christianity does, a person (using some kind of criteria) judges whether this is true and worthy of his or her acceptance. I personally have judged Christianity to be true and have committed my life to following Jesus. Others have judged otherwise. It is just a part of human nature to judge, so we may as well judge one another’s beliefs. I am going to judge you, so you might as well judge me (you can’t help it anyway). Besides, do we not all desire to know the facts about the world rather than wander through life believing lies?

1. Judging avoids an arbitrary life

Imagine if no one judged between beliefs and actions. No one would have a rationale for what they think or do, and thus everyone would end up living life arbitrarily. Consider if you were to ask me during a conversation, “Why are you a Christian?” If I did not judge, I would not be able to answer your question definitively. Why? Because to believe something—in this case, Christianity—entails making a judgment that Christianity is true or at least worthy of acceptance. In other words, it means to have

reasons

—which includes weighing and

judging

evidence for and against—for belief. If I did not judge Christianity or any other religion to be true or false for any reason, my beliefs would be arbitrary. I might as well paste the names of all the world’s religions on a dart board and accept one based upon where a dart lands. Judging is something that must be done if our beliefs are to be reasonable (or unreasonable!) rather than arbitrary. So, we need to judge to avoid an arbitrary life. Moreover, we need to judge

well

so we do not live believing lies.

1. Jesus said to judge

Some may find it difficult to imagine, but Jesus commands us to judge. When some leading Jews were upset with Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, Jesus told them, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24; NASB). The kind of judging to be avoided is not all judging but judging by mere appearance. As we know, appearances can be deceptive. We may mistake something or not have all the relevant and necessary background information to make a good judgement. So Jesus is telling us to slow down and think well before making a judgement. Do not be too quick to pull the trigger. Even in an oft-quoted text used to support the idea that we ought not judge (“Do not judge so that you will not be judged”; Matthew 7:1), Jesus actually commands us to judge: “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 7:5). In other words, Jesus commands us to judge correctly rather than hypocritically, not that we should avoid judging altogether. Judging in this case is for the betterment of a Christian brother or sister—something to be done to help each other become more righteous. Therefore, if Jesus said we ought to judge, then it must be o.k. Just judge righteously, not hypocritically or unrighteously.

1. There is a difference between “judging” and “judgmentalism”

Perhaps this point could be made first, but it is so important that it is best to leave it last so it makes a lasting impression upon the conscience. There is a difference between “judging” and being “judgmental.” No one likes a pompous, arrogant person who acts holier-than-thou toward others. This is what many often think of when they hear the word “judge.” But it is better to reserve the term “judge” to refer to the idea of “discerning” or “forming an opinion” about something. “Judgmental” is best to refer to the holier-than-thou attitude. In fact, one could even use the term “condemning.” This is what appears to be what most people are really concerned about when they say, “Don’t judge!” They mean, “Don’t act as God and condemn me.” And this is definitely true. No one sits in the place of God as the final judge who condemns others. The role of final judge is reserved only for God. Next time you hear someone say, “Don’t judge!” it may be best to reply, “What do you mean by judge?” If they mean that you must avoid discerning between what is morally right and wrong or coming to a conclusion about what is true or false, then they have conflated “judging” with “being judgmental.” We must all judge what is morally right and true, but we ought to avoid having a judgmental attitude, thinking we are better and morally superior to others. Avoid being judgmental, but it’s o.k. to judge. Really.