What's the sense in the Christian idea "Judge Not"?

Question

If we don't judge others and leave everything up to God in His Mysterious Way, how can we prevent say rapists from commiting rape, or thieves from robbing us?

Is Christianity complete madness?

Answer 1

That is not what it states in the Bible (and I'm a Pagan, before you start getting riled.) Only certain Christians use that to keep people, especially Non-Christians, to Not judge their actions. But the Bible states, Judge not... OR you will be judged in the SAME manner you judge others. This is not about judging actions such as rape, theft, etc... This is about How one judges another. Example would be when a Christian uses the Old Testament to judge the actions of another... yet states the Old Testament Laws do not apply to them. This goes directly against their own saviours statements about How to judge the actions of another. In order to judge "righteously", as the Bible (and Jesus himself) states, you have to be willing to place the exact same judgement upon yourself. Otherwise, it's not a Righteous Judgement.

I have seen way too many Christians use the "Judge Not" to try to wiggle out of being judged themselves. They can't possibly Not know why many of us Non-Christians see them as hypocrites when they do this.

Answer 2

I think it may mean judging in the sense of a judge in a court, i.e in a way that leads to punishment (since we all have done and still do wrong, we are inevitably going to be hypocrites in some respect). Thats also probably only in our personal relationships, if you're in a responsible position you have to protect those in your charge. But we have to analyze people and ideas or else we are going to be taken for a ride.
Jesus himself spoke very hard words to the religious leaders of his time on Earth, since they were blocking the path to God from ordinary people as Jesus saw things. Just words and warnings though.

Answer 3

As with any of Jesus' teachings, you cannot isolate one or two verses and make a conclusion from this. You must look at all of His teachings on the subject and then proceed.

Jesus taught that we are to judge others with RIGHTEOUS judgement. This means we are not to be hypocritical; we are not to side with the rich or the poor simply because of their status; and we are to use Godly knowledge when judging. If we judge unrighteously, God will use the same measure that we judged others against us; if we judge righteously, we will be rewarded.

Answer 4

Yes it is, just like most religions. They're hypocritical and selfish.
You could argue that if God doesn't punish thieves or rapists then he or she wants these people to commit their vile crimes.

Answer 5

Judge not (without a Biblical foundation for judging ) is the message you left out.

Answer 6

From what I understand, 'judge not' means the same as 'don't look at others' flaws when you completely overlook yours'! I do believe that christiians weren't told not to judge others to see whether they should go to jail or not...get it?

Answer 7

Judging someone, is a lot diffrent from someone commiting a sin. If I say "You killed someone, your going to hell", that is judging someone, and I have no right to do that. If I say "You killed someone, and you have broken a law, and should goto jail" thats not judging but simply stating the facts. Get it homeboy?

Answer 8

I don't think you seriously believe that's what it means though, do you ? If you do...oh dear. Its just advising us not to see the flaws in others if we cannot see the flaws in ourselves...which is good advice for everyone, even if they're not religious (I'm not, really).

Answer 9

You can't prevent them, but the police can arrest them. Judging their soul is different than judging their crime.

Answer 10

Youv'e just found a major flaw in all religions....