There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor? James 4:12


Christians nowadays have fallen into the habit of judging each other. But is it okay to judge? Romans 2:1 tells us this, "therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things." Can you judge someone and be doing the same thing that you are accusing them of? Certainly not. Roman 2:1 tells us that you condemn your self if you practice such things.


There is only one judge, Almighty God, and he is standing at the door watching us. We are warned in James 5:9 that, "do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door." You see human beings since the fall of man have always been against each other. Even in the church, brothers fights against brothers and sisters against sisters. What is the reward of such things? Who wins such battles? Only the devil is the winner, he is smiling and happy when we fall to unrighteousness.


1 Peter 4:5 tells us that all men will have to give an account to the one who judges, God in heaven. Let's heed the warning in Matthew 7:2, "for in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you." We have to be very careful how we judge others, God is measuring us with the same measurement. I have often fallen  into the trap of judging others, but when I look at my own life, who am I to judge anyone? I am not perfect, yet the bible says I must strive to be perfect.


Some religious group like to judge people by what they eat. They say you can't eat this meat or that meat, or must celebrate this thing or that thing. The bible clearly shows me in Colossians 2:16, "therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ." If I don't see it in the bible then I won't accept it. I won't be fooled by the words of man. If God does not decree it in his word then I will never follow it.


There are instances that we must judge one another though. If you see a brother or sister doing acts against God you must be their judge in guiding them to the truth. The manner in which we do encourage should be gently. That is our purpose to bear one another's burdens. We all have our weaknesses and at time we need encouragement from each other.


However, the ultimate judge is God, and there is no where in this universe for us to hide from him.