Some people believe we are forbidden by God to ever judge the actions of others.  This is not true.  On one occasion, Jesus commanded His disciples to judge (John 7:24).

To take the position that we are never to judge, is to fail to “rightly divide the word of truth,” and is contradictory in nature.  It involves someone judging that it is wrong to judge.  That is like arguing that it is wrong to argue, or debating that it is wrong to debate.

Having said that, it is true that we can judge one another inappropriately.  We have all probably judged someone in the wrong way at some point.  One way we can do this is by judging matters of opinion.  Paul admonished us not to do this to one another.

Romans 14:10-11, 13 (ESV)
¹⁰  Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; ¹¹  for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God…” ¹³  Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer…

Let us consider a couple of words.  First, the word judgment comes from a Greek word that means “to distinguish or put asunder, and denotes the idea of condemning” (Thayer).  Second, the word despise comes from a Greek word meaning, “to make of no account” or to regard as nothing” (Vine).  This word points to treating one with contempt.

Another important word in this passage is brother.  It immediately brings out two thoughts with connection to how some were acting.  First, brother is a family reference and emphasizes the love and kindness that we should have for one another.  When one can view a brother as nothing and condemn him simply because of a difference of opinion, you know something is wrong.  One of the worst things that can develop among brethren is that we stop treating each other as such.

Second, the term brother points to equality.  When you think of a father, you think of one who has higher authority, but when you think of a brother, you think of one of equal rank.  It is awful when one brother condemns another brother over a matter of opinion, not only because he is elevating himself to the position of Lord, but also because he has no right to condemn his brother, seeing they are of equal rank.  The whole thing suggests arrogance.  We are all brethren in Christ, and we need to act like it, first by loving each other as we should, and then by treating each other like the equals that we are, instead of with contempt.

Let us remember that we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  Instead of judging brethren in matters that are indifferent to God, we need to make sure that we are living up to the standard of God’s Word.  Regarding one another in Christ, we should all respect each other’s individualities, realizing that we are not all the same, and that is okay.  In fact, it is best, and it is the way God designed it (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).   We are all of equal value in the eyes of God.  Let’s make sure we treat one another like it.        

As you wind down for the night, think about these things