Discernment Is Not The Same As Condemning

Something clearly wrong is happening in front of you. Do you say something or keep scrolling? Most of us freeze right there, because we have been told Christians are not supposed to judge.

Matthew 7:1-2 says, "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Read verse 2 slowly. Jesus is talking about the measure you use, not your ability to think. He is warning you about the standard you set for other people.

He actually expects you to think. 1 John 4:1 says, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." That is a straight command to evaluate. Discernment weighs the situation, condemnation weighs the person.

The final verdict was never handed to you. Romans 2:2 says, "But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things." He judges according to truth, and none of us has full access to that. So He keeps that seat.

Here is why this does not have to be stressful. You were never made righteous by getting these calls right, Jesus already made you righteous. That frees you up to name a wrong action without writing off a human being. Ask the Holy Spirit for the words before you say them, He is far better at this than you are.

Call the thing what it is. Leave the person with God. That is not weakness, it is walking in the same grace that was handed to you first.