The word ?judgmental? is not in the Konia Greek ? only the words ?Judgment,?? ?Judge ?and ?Justly? are to be found in the Greek.? The world judgmental is of English origin from 1909, and means to make harsh judgments.? Unfortunately, when someone uses this word [judgmental], that person is emphasizing an emotive property which is subjective, and not a factually subordinate term, which would be objective.? In essence a person who makes the charge that someone is ?judgmental,? is telling that someone how they FEEL, yet not defining the cause, or presenting the facts to substantiate the emotion.? The same could be said of the terms: argumentative and obstinate.
When a person says of another that they are judgmental, without giving specific reasons and facts, they themselves are being judgmental, and thus the adage of: the pot calling the kettle black.? Paul alluded to this when he wrote the Romans:
?You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment, do the same things? [Rm.2:1].
The ?therefore? is very important and relates to what was previously discussed in Chapter one.? In effect, the focus need not be on the specific carnal sins of men that Paul mentioned, but upon the reason for the sin in the first place ? that being: no attention to the word of God, but following after the FEELINGS and notions of men!
Of the Biblical words found in the Greek, there are 18 specific words that deal with judgment, judging, justifying, justice, and jurisdiction.? I will not belabor you with all the forms and their specific meanings and intent, but utilize a well known scripture.? Jesus said to those who took issue with his teachings:
?Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment? [Jn.7:24].
In context, Jesus was subjectively attacked as being judgmental, because he healed of the Sabbath and taught things they did not understand. In response he elaborated to the people,
?You judge by human standards, I pass judgment on no one?? [Jn.8:15].
So Jesus is saying, Christians can make a judgment, but it must be made by God?s standards.? As example: God abhors prostitution and theft by craft.? If a person recognizes that someone is committing fornication or committing fraud, he is making a God-centered judgment that the activity is sinful.? But for him to make a right judgment he must first evaluate his own behavior, and then consider why he wants to point out the sin.? If he commits similar acts then he is judgmental, or if he points out the sin for gossip or condemnations sake, then he is also judgmental.? However, if he exposes the sin to prevent it from spreading within a community, or he is looking to see the repentance of the sinner, then his motive is godly, and he makes a right judgment.
If a person argues the general principles of God?s expectations, and he himself is not engaging in the same sin, what he says may make some people FEEL upset, but the individual is not passing a judgment on anyone, he is only carefully presenting the characteristics of godliness versus godlessness.
So, when you have an opinion about someone that makes you FEEL angry, properly justify the charge with actual words that were spoke, or actions that were committed, and against who, and then, you can have a reasonable and definable occasion to study the other persons failures, while you engage in fellowship. Otherwise, you are pelting the other person with judgmental feelings.