Christians are judgmental because we are made in God’s image, and Jesus Christ commanded us to be.

However, the accusation often arises from a misunderstanding of what judgment entails and why followers of Jesus Christ act as they do.

Contrary to popular belief, Jesus taught His disciples to judge, but with righteous intent and clear motives. Before exploring why Christians are judgmental, consider three (3) foundational truths.

First, judging others and situations is universal. 

Everyone, not just Christians, judges daily, often without realizing it. When you see someone mistreating a cashier, you instinctively think, “That’s rude!” That’s a judgment, showing it is part of human nature.

Second, the problem isn’t judging but the 'why' and 'what' is behind it. Non-Christians may not know that Jesus commands His followers to judge righteously in specific contexts, not hypocritically.

More to the point, motives matter.

Third, assuming many readers are non-Christians, I’ll explain this in an accessible way but with this sobering truth: regardless of your view of true Christians—not the hypocrites often showcased on TV or social media—you face an eternal decision about God and where you will spend eternity.

More plainly, you were put on Earth to make a judgment about your eternal future.

Here are six (6) more reasons why Christians are righteously judgmental:

1. Everyone Judges, Not Just Christians

Asking, “Why are Christians so judgmental' misses the real issue. To gain a better understanding, a better question is, “What prompts me to form opinions about others’ and their actions?”

When we comprehend the magnitude of that paradigm, it becomes impossible to not understand that judgment isn’t exclusive to Christians; it’s essential for human survival.

When you vote in elections, you judge candidates and then vote based on your values. Choosing friends, neighborhoods, or even what to eat involves judgment.

Therefore, since judgments are unavoidable, the deeper question is: 'why do Christians label certain behaviors as wrong and those who engage in them as misguided?'

And, in fairness, isn’t calling Christians judgmental a judgment itself? In effect, you and/or those who take issue with Christians have judged us for judging. If that is true, how does your critique differ from ours?

Recognizing this hypocrisy helps frame the discussion fairly.

2. Christians Judge Out of Love

As a street preacher, when I share the gospel publicly, people often listen, at least briefly. Ultimately, someone always takes offense whether it is straight forwardly expressed or not.

If non-believers paused before taking offense, they’d see we judge righteously, as Jesus taught His followers, "Judge with right judgment," because we love others and desire their eternal fellowship with God (John 7:24).

Furthermore, the Lord Jesus commanded, “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:15).

The gospel message both proclaims the world evil but also offers a way out of its trappings and ultimate destruction. Although the Bible declares (judges) the world evil, the good new (gospel) is that Jesus is the way out.

If we are not to judge, at all, we could not preach the message of Christ because it begins with judgment, God's standards and not ours.

We share this good news not to demean but because someone loved us enough to share it. Without being 'examined' (judged), no one can enter a relationship with God or live with Him forever.

3. Christians Judge Behavior, Not People

Non-believers often feel condemned because they mistake idea exchanges for personal attacks. The offense isn’t judgment itself but the sense that Christians claim superiority or condemn them to hell.

No such thing is true because we don't have power over Heaven or Hell enough to throw anyone into either! However, that does not relieve us of the obligation to "go into all the world and preach the good news (of Jesus)."

Jesus warned against hypocritical judgment while urging us to address our own flaws first, but He didn’t forbid judgment altogether (Matt. 7:1-5). Later, a follower of His named Paul warned church leaders (like me) on the same thing.

Paul wrote, "Oh you Man of God, do you judge another and do the same thing that you are judging him for doing? How will you escape the damnation of God" (Rom. 2:1-2).

However, and let's be real, people who accuse Christians of unfair judging do not really have an issue with the practice in general.

Consider this: which of you who so vehemtly protest don't welcome the praise of "Great job, keep up the good work!" Or would reject hearing another declare, "your children are so well-behaved and polite."

Aren't these forms of judgment as well?

The real challenge is not with judging, we've established all of us do so and are welcoming of 'pats on the back': it is being righteously corrected (judged) when wrong!

4. Judgment Sustains Safe Societies

The notion that judging others is inherently wrong is untenable. Even the least judgmental person makes dozens of decisions daily—choosing what’s safe, ethical, or beneficial.

To reject judgment entirely is to reject decision-making.

In 1993, as a U.S. Marine in Somalia, I witnessed a society devoid of judgment against evil. Warlords ruled a wasteland where murder and chaos thrived, as depicted in Black Hawk Down.

Without judgment of wrongful acts, society collapses. If judging bad behavior is wrong, was Somalia’s violence acceptable? I am sure every person reading this has an opinion on Presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

Your opinion is a form of being judgmental concerning them or their policies, right?

Moreover, you’re reading this because you've judged the subject merits further exploration. That choice involved multiple judgments—about Christians, their actions, and your need for answers.

If these things are so, why is judgment deemed wrong only when Christians exercise it?

5. Christians Reflect God’s Judgmental Nature

Judgment isn’t merely human; it’s divine. The universe, created by the God of the Bible, reflects God's judgmental nature about what is good, evil, and more foundational, cosmos level math and science which holds everything together.

Science and Scripture agree: the universe began at a precise moment, although they may not agree on its cause. That moment required a decision—a judgment—by an all-powerful being or, at minimum, some force responsible for the Big Bang explosion of the chemical cocktail.

(Of course, this is not meant to suggest I agree, at all, with the nonsensical Big Bang Theory. As you read this, it is being disproven by the same science which brought it forward to begin with).

Furthermore, and on a more micro level, the Earth, sun, moon, atmosphere, and ecosystems combine perfectly to provide a platform for life as we know it. This order reflects a purposeful judgment by some force which determined precision is necessary for life to exist.

As Psalm 19:1 declares, “The heavens declare the glory of God.” Our conscious existence is the result of divine judgment, proving judgment is foundational to creation.

6. Christians Mirror God’s Likeness

Genesis 1:26 states, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” This likeness includes the capacity to judge.

God’s first commands to Adam—to “rule over the earth” and “work and keep the garden”—required discernment (Gen. 1:28, 2:15).

Ruling over creation, under a holy God, meant Adam’s decisions had to align with righteousness. Tending the Garden demanded sound judgment, like any gardener using best practices to yield crops.

Without discerning choices—about soil, water, or pests—no garden thrives. Similarly, Christians judge to align with God’s standards, reflecting His image.

Finally, reconsider these six (6) reasons why Christians are judgmental, as your eternal destiny depends on it.

We judge because we’re human, love others, evaluate behavior, sustain society, reflect God’s nature, and mirror His likeness. Jesus calls us to judge righteously, not hypocritically, rather with love and truth guiding us.

Your discomfort with Christian judgment may stem from disliking correction. But if we’re right about God’s judgment, eternity is at stake. As Hebrews 9:27 warns, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”

Will you dismiss this as offensive or heed it as a loving call to seek truth?