Scriptures state that Christians are to righteously judge those within the church who are straying and backsliding in sin. But we are also warned not to be a hypocrite and instructed to confine our judgment to matters that are indisputable. And most importantly - Scriptures tell Christians that judgment is for restoration, not condemnation.
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The point of judgment is to RESTORE people and help direct them back to a place of repentance and surrender. The apostle Paul writes, "If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently." (Galatians 6:1)
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With that in mind, let us always ask ourselves, “Is my motivation for judging others to condemn them or restore them?”
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“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5)
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