Don’t Judge Me
By Chaplain Allen Vaughan

Most people, if asked, can quote at least one verse from the Bible, even if they have never read the Bible and don’t profess to have any religious faith at all. The verse to which I am referring is: “Judge not, or you will also be judged.” Some may not also know that these words were spoken by Jesus and are found in Matthew 7:1.

But, this is one those oft-quoted verses of the Bible that many people have embraced and made a part of their personal beliefs, regardless of religious background. The shorthand version of this, which we hear used nowadays is, “Don’t judge me.”

I’ve always struggled with this statement somewhat, because we are called upon to make judgments every day. We make judgments on whether we have had too much to drink before getting behind the wheel of a car. We make judgments on whether or not to reply to spam e-mail. We are expected to make judgments about what is right or wrong, what is good behavior or bad behavior. But, when it comes to making judgments about people, it gets a little sticky.

There is a difference between making judgments and passing judgment. We can and should make judgments every day, based upon observable behavior and the values we hold. I might observe that a buddy of mine has been drinking and can barely stand up or walk. I value human life and safety, so I will make a judgment to take his keys away or refuse to get in a car with him.

Passing judgment means that we assume to know what is in a person’s heart. If I assume that every drunk driver is a selfish, unthinking, cold-hearted individual who probably woke up in the morning determined to place his life and the lives of anyone near him in danger after a few drinks, then I would be passing judgment.

Let’s bring this a little closer to home. When someone we spend a lot of time with everyday—like a roommate, a shipmate, or a loved one—does something wrong or hurtful, we are frequently placed in a position to either make a judgment or pass judgment. One of the challenges in a situation like this is that, normally, no one wants to be accused of being judgmental.

If we speak up or speak out about behavior we think is wrong, then the other person may throw out the dreaded phrase, “Don’t judge me!” Because, “If you judge me, then you are not being very nice; you are not following what the Bible says; or you are trying to impose your values and your morality on me. And, you shouldn’t do that.”

Like I said, we can and should make judgments based upon observable behavior and our closely held values. When we pass judgment, we begin to make assumptions about motives or what could have been in a person’s heart when they did something wrong.

The Bible tells us that God alone knows what is in the human heart and can pass judgment on what is found in our hearts. However, the Bible also gives us very clear guidance about what is right and wrong, and our Creator expects us to make good judgments in order to avoid the wrong and embrace what is right.