“So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.” — Romans 14:12-13, NIV
Judgment can be a hard topic. After all, no one likes to feel judged. All too often, as humans many of can fall into the trap of passing judgment onto others without examining our own life. However, the Bible warns us not to pass judgment onto those around us as we too are imperfect human beings (Romans 14:12-13).
There are different types of judgment and not all are bad. For example, we may make a judgment about what hotel to stay at based on online reviews. Perhaps, we make a judgment when finding a babysitter for a child. This kind of judgments are helpful and are important parts of life.
In fact, the Bible does not imply that we must never judge others. Rather, that we need to judge righteously and fairly (Proverbs 31:9). Holding others accountable for their actions is very significant, especially within the church and Christian community. It is important to look out for one another and push each other to grow spiritually which at times may mean addressing sins or flaws.
However, unfair judgments based on our assumptions do not point toward God. Rather, these judgments can damage our relationship with others. In John 7:24, Jesus says “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”