Judgement vs. Judgemental

This post is not for everyone. It's only for those who have felt judged and or don't want to judge others.

It's pretty clear that those who follow Jesus are not supposed to judge others. I don't think you can argue with that. The sad truth is one of the things the church at large is known for is being judgemental. At the same time there are things that Christ followers are told to make judgements about. So what's the difference?

When you are judgemental toward someone it often leads to gossip, making yourself feel better, and negativity. When you make a judgment it often leads to talking to the person to help them, sadness because you hurt for someone you love, and it reflects that you care more about them then you do yourself. Being judgemental is all about you and your pride. Making a judgment leads to your heart breaking because you see where someone's poor decisions will lead them to. Being judgmental is selfish and a reflection of your heart.

There are certain things that Christ followers should judge. We should judge situations before we get into them. We should judge our own actions. We should even judge if we can handle being around certain people. The difference is this judgment should not lead to pride, or to us looking down at others. The point is to make wise judgements while you avoid being judgemental.