Judge Not?

but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did." - John 8:40-41a

Many criticize Christians for judging. The often quoted bible verses are Matthew 7:1-2, which states, 

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."

And generally speaking, we are not to judge others; however, there is a difference between judging others and examining the fruit of others. In today's text, Jesus observes the fruit of the Jews, and their fruit pointed not to Abraham but the devil. He was not judging; he was observing. In John 3, Jesus said He came not to condemn (judge) the world but to save the world through Him.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. - John 3:17

Don't get me wrong, Jesus will return one day as the Judge, and we must be ready for His return.

I believe in Jesus Christ ... He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. - The Apostles' Creed

How can we be ready? We must be accountable to one another.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, when we see something, we must say something. What fruit are growing on your tree? What about your brothers and sisters? When we see fruit growing in others that are not of the Spirit, we must point them out in love. However, many of us, fearing hurting one's feelings, are hesitant to speak the truth. After ensuring our confessions are current, let us not live in fear of telling the truth to one another.

Let us grow together in Christ!

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. - Ephesians 4:25