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               Contrary to the mistaken idea that Christians should never judge (often wrongly attributed to Matthew 7:1), people who serve God are told to judge many things. Here are a few issues and areas of life that require us to make judgments.

 

Doctrine: Is it sound or flawed? (1 Timothy 4:1, 16; 2 Timothy 4:3-4)?

 

Religious teachers: Do they teach truth or error? (Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:29-31; Colossians 2:8; Revelation 2:2)

 

Morals: Do we accept and live by godly standards or those of the world?                     (1 Thessalonians 4:1-7; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

 

Friends: Do we choose them wisely? (Proverbs 12:26; 22:24-25)

 

Culture: Do we strive to live godly lives or strive to be accepted by the world?  (1 John 2:15; Revelation 18:4)

 

Ourselves: (2 Corinthians 13:5).

 

                     It is not our job to judge people in the sense of condemning them. The responsibility for that kind of judgment is given to Jesus Christ, and His judgments are completely fair and merciful (Psalm 96:13; Acts 17:31; John 5:22). But God does expect us to discern what is godly and what is ungodly so we can live in obedience to His good and beneficial laws (Deuteronomy 10:13).