The most popular words in the Bible among people who don’t care about the Bible are, “Don’t judge.” Notice I said these are popular words instead of saying this is a popular verse. It’s not a verse. It’s two words yanked out of context. You can make the Bible say ANYTHING by yanking words out of context. For example, Jesus said:

“But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them–bring them here and kill them in front of me.”

– Jesus Christ

Yep. Jesus said that. If those words are causing you to suffer a crisis of faith then you understand the importance of context. Congratulations! (Look up Luke 19:27 before you renounce your faith for blithering, mindless, atheism.)

“Don’t judge” appears in Christian conversations more often than “God bless” or “Hallelujah”. The only atrociously twisted word pairing that’s more popular is “Jesus Saves”. When you restrict your Bible reading to Instagram pictures, you can be certain the core message of Christianity is, “Don’t judge”.

Jesus also said this:

“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.”

Matthew 18:15 (PLEASE go look at the context…don’t take my word for it.)

Jesus gives you permission to judge me in the first 5 words of that phrase. You can’t know that I’ve sinned against you unless you judge me. You can’t “show me my fault” until you’ve judged that I have one.

People like dogs because dogs don’t judge. They can’t judge. They’re dumb animals. A dog’s opinion of you won’t change if you take up axe murdering as a hobby. When you tell me not to judge, you’re telling me to be a dumb animal. You’re telling me to let you do whatever you please, like a dog. You’re telling me to accept you no matter what, like a dog. That’s insulting (in my judgment).

Notice that I didn’t say, “You’re not a Christian.” I can’t pass judgment on the status of your salvation. I can only show you your fault and hope that you’re willing to hear me out. If you’re busy posting memes telling me not to judge, you’ll miss an opportunity for personal growth.

The apostles weren’t afraid to judge people. They did it all the time.

Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Acts 15:1 (…yes…you should go read the context. Always read the context!)

Paul, Barnabas, and Peter initiated a rigorous conversation with the dudes who were teaching that Gentiles needed to follow Jewish traditions in order to be saved. The “pro-circumcision” camp was passing judgment on the salvation of the Gentiles. It wasn’t their place to judge whether or not the Gentiles were saved. It’s not MY place to judge whether or not you are saved.

But get a load of this:

“It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.”

Acts 15:19 (Do I really need to keep saying ‘check the context’?)

Peter was judgmental – BIG TIME! First, he told the Christians not to make things hard for the Gentiles. Then, he gave instructions to the Gentiles about how they should behave. So much finger wagging in just two sentences! Do you have the guts to tell Peter, “Don’t judge”?

If you don’t judge me, you don’t care about me. You’ll stand silently while I destroy myself. You want to believe you’re inclusive and loving but the truth is you’re a coward. You’re just afraid to confront me. That’s my judgment, anyway. If you disagree, come and talk to me.