Are we to judge at all?

"Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." John 7:24

Both verbs in this verse - "do not judge," and "judge" are imperative verbs, that is they are commands. Here the command assumes judging, but is concerned with the standards used to perform the judgement - not by appearances (things you see, your own preconceived ideas about how something is supposed to look or behave) but with right judgment.

Jesus also said in Matthew 7:1-5:

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. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.


It made me wonder then what is the place of being a judge in the life of a Christ-follower. Are we to judge at all? Are there circumstances or people where judgment is appropriate? Look at the following verses regarding judgment and see if you can discern the heart of God.

Luke 6:37-38
Rom 2:1-3
1 Cor 5:12
James 4:11-12

A sinner saved by grace, who sees himself as better or different than those around him, probably has underestimated the magnitude and completeness of their own depravity. It seems to me that our judgment should always be couched in and covered with an overwhelming sense of gratitude to the grace that God extended to us, and a compulsion to share that grace with fellow sinners.

Thoughts?