They say "don't judge."
Jesus said "judge righteous judgment."
Both are in the Bible.
Both are true.
But they're not the same thing.

Let me show you the difference.

What Most People Think

Most people think any judgment is wrong. They think pointing out someone's behavior makes you the bad guy. They think "judge not" means "never say anything."

That's not what the Bible teaches.

What Jesus Actually Said

"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." — John 7:24

Not "don't judge." Judge. But judge righteously. With clear eyes. With a pure heart. With the goal of restoration.

The Difference

Righteous judgment holds up a mirror. Condemnation points a finger.

Righteous judgment says "this is what I see." Condemnation says "you are bad."

Righteous judgment leaves room to change. Condemnation leaves no way out.

Righteous judgment wants restoration. Condemnation wants punishment.

Righteous judgment hurts to heal. Condemnation hurts to destroy.

Righteous judgment opens a door. Condemnation slams it shut.

Righteous judgment leads to turning. Condemnation leads to staying stuck.

What Righteous Judgment Does

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother." — Matthew 18:15

The goal is gaining. Restoration. Turning. Change.

Not being right. Not winning. Not proving anything.

Gaining.

What Condemnation Does

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." — Romans 8:1

No condemnation. Not because people don't do wrong. Because condemnation doesn't help. It doesn't lead to turning. It leads to hiding. Shame. Staying stuck.

Condemnation is the opposite of help.

How You Know Which One You're Doing

Do you want them to change? Righteous judgment says yes. Condemnation says no.

Do you leave room for that? Righteous judgment says yes. Condemnation says no.

Do you offer a way out? Righteous judgment says yes. Condemnation says no.

Do you want restoration? Righteous judgment says yes. Condemnation says no.

Does it hurt to hear? Righteous judgment says yes, but it's healing hurt. Condemnation says yes, but it's destroying hurt.

What happens after? With righteous judgment, they might turn. With condemnation, they definitely won't.

What Happens When You Judge Righteously

You tell the truth. They might see themselves.

You hold the mirror. They might look.

You leave the door open. They might walk through.

You offer a way out. They might take it.

You want restoration. They might turn.

That's the goal. That's righteous judgment. That's what you're called to do.

What Happens When You Condemn

You point a finger. They get defensive.

You shame them. They hide.

You close the door. They stay stuck.

You make them wrong. They prove you right by staying wrong.

You want to win. They never turn.

That's what the world does. That's what religion does. That's what false shepherds do.

The Heart of the Matter

Righteous judgment leads to a person turning from their old ways.

A person who judges without helping someone turn? That person condemns themselves.

"For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." — Matthew 7:2

They judge with condemnation. That measure comes back to them. They condemn themselves by condemning others.

You judge with righteousness. That measure comes back to you. Restoration. Turning. Gaining.

What This Means for You

You have the right to judge. You have the responsibility to judge. But you must judge righteously.

Which means check your own heart first. Want their restoration more than your being right. Leave the door open. Offer a way out. Speak truth, but speak it in love. Let them turn.

If they don't turn, that's on them. But you did your part. You held the mirror. You left the door open.

The Warning

If you judge without wanting their restoration? If you condemn instead of correct? If you point fingers without holding mirrors?

You condemn yourself. Not because God is waiting to get you. Because that's how the measure works. What you give out comes back.

The Invitation

Judge. But judge righteously. See clearly. Speak truth. Leave room. Want restoration.

That's not being soft. That's being like Jesus. And He's the only one who ever got it completely right.

#RighteousJudgment #Condemnation #John7 #Matthew18 #Romans8 #Matthew7 #TheAnadaraCode #Unhooked