The Plank and the Speck

Thinking Biblically about judgement

If you’re familiar with modern American Christianity (or its many social media offshoots), you’ve probably noticed that the word “judgmental” gets tossed around like a theological grenade. It’s a total conversation killer, a smear, and a way to say, “Hey, you’re not allowed to say that!.” The accusation always comes when someone points out that a lifestyle or behavior doesn’t line up with Scripture.

Ironically, the word “judgmental” as we use it today is almost entirely secular in origin. It’s rooted in our cultural desire to avoid discomfort, validate every individual choice, and flatten moral distinctions just to keep the peace—or at least the illusion of it. Of course, the truth is that we as Christians are not called to be moralistic deists. We are supposed to judge, especially on moral issues. “Too judgmental” is a thinly veiled excuse to dodge conviction.

It’s not judgmental to say that adultery is a sin. It’s not judgmental to say that we should forgive, or say that God has standards for sexual ethics, honesty, etc. It’s just being Biblical.

Let’s consult Matthew 7:1–5:

“[1] Do not judge, or you will be judged. [2] For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

[3] Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? [4] How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? [5] You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

This passage is constantly weaponized by people who are either ignorant or don’t care enough to read into it beyond the surface level. Jesus is not prohibiting judgment altogether. He’s prohibiting hypocritical judgment by calling out people who are living in sin while simultaneously condemning others. The message boils down to “clean up your own house” as opposed to “don’t point out sin”.

I take notice of what Jesus says at the end: “then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” He’s saying that we should be authentic, humble, and honest before we help others walk in righteousness. (don’t leave the speck alone)

So why has the word “judgmental” become a bludgeon in the church and our culture?

It’s definitely easier to shut people up than deal with conviction. We find it hard to wrestle with the reality that every day we do things God never blessed, and accuse others of being mean-spirited as an alternative. Way too many Christians have bought into the lie that “judging” is inherently unloving and taboo.

True love speaks. It warns a brother or sister when they are in spiritual danger, not from a place of superiority, but from a place of truth and concern for their eternal well-being.

I think this gets to the heart of what Jesus was really saying. He wasn’t forbidding judgment, He was forbidding self-righteousness and the kind of judgment that declares someone’s eternal destiny based on our personal biases or feelings. We don’t get to send people to Hell because we don’t like them.

When the Church stops judging rightly, it stops being salt and light; (can you tell I read Matthew before this) it becomes passive and complicit. That’s what happens when we let secular language redefine Biblical mandates.

The next time someone accuses you of being judgmental for quoting Scripture or calling sin what it is, remember you’re in good company. Jesus was accused of the same thing. So were the prophets and apostles.

We can’t kid ourselves. Jesus was not crucified because He went around giving people positive affirmations and feel-good sermons. He spoke with authority and called sin what it was. That was especially true for the religious elite and politically powerful. Jesus made the morally “neutral” position deeply uncomfortable.

And yes, he was accused of being judgmental.

The kind of Christianity that actually follows Christ is always going to be a threat to the systems that profit off of sin. That’s why we need to threaten political power, self-righteousness, pride, corruption… I could go on.

I’ve mentioned before that this is why we have a neutered version of Jesus in 2025. Everyone and everything needs to be affirmed. Is it fun to watch unfold? No, but we know that God is still at work in this world. We just need to walk along humbly with the truth and stay hopeful.

Thank you everyone, for reading these posts and thinking alongside me. Big things ahead!