Judging Others

[Happy_LDS]

Why is it that every time someone points out something a person is doing that needs to be changed, there is always someone that says "Let's no judge". I understand the "concept" but I think we fail to understand two things:

1. Judgment is not necessarily related to something negative.

2. The Commandment is not to judge unrighteously.

[Zelph]

Why is it that every time someone points out something a person is doing that needs to be changed, there is always someone that says "Let's no judge". I understand the "concept" but I think we fail to understand two things:

1. Judgment is not necessarily related to something negative.

2. The Commandment is not to judge unrighteously.

Actually if you read the jst of that particular scripture it is  Matthew 7:1-2, "Now these are the words which Jesus taught his disciples that they should say unto the people.  Judge not unrighteously, that ye be not judged: but judge righteous judgment."

Don't get me wrong we all judge everyday, but when we see a person who has multiple tattoos and piercings we start to judge them to be a bad person.  I've gotten to know some of them and they are good people.  John 7:24, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

[Sariah_Gift]

We all judge every day, the key is what happy_lds said about judging unrighteously.

[tragula]

Happy is right--the commandment is to not judge unrighteously.  But that raises the question, what is unrighteous judgment.  The key is to interpret the passage in context.  If we read the next verse, the Savior says:

"For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."  (Matt. 7:2)

From this it is clear that what the Savior is talking about is hypocrisy.  In other words, what He means by unrighteous judgment is finding fault with someone else for doing the same thing that we do.  That why He says, "for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged."  In other words, if I find fault with someone else for using bad language, then that is how the Lord is going to judge me--the same way that I judge others.  So, if I find fault with others for using bad language, I had better not use bad language myself, or the Lord will judge me for that.

A good (or bad) example.  One time I saw someone at work drive right by a stop sign without stopping, and I judged them for doing so.  But then, when I left work, what did I do?  The exact same thing.  I drove right by that exact, same stop sign without stopping.  Now, how do you suppose the Lord is going to judge me?  Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of.  That's what the Savior meant by judging unrighteously.