Judgment = The thoughtful determination of what is right and what is wrong. (i.e. the fruit of knowing good and evil.)
Now, read Matt 5:21-22 and consider this:
Murder would not be, but for the anger.
Anger would not be, but for the judgment.
And while murder and anger might find me in court, it’s calling someone a fool that puts me in danger of the fires of hell. Just an innocent judgment?
“Judge not…,” Jesus warned.
But people don’t want to hear this.
Given a three-step process: judgment to emotion to action, I’d rather deal with the action and emotion than nip it in the bud. That way I can feel like I’m doing something.
But to side-step the judgment – or to disregard my thoughtful determination of good and evil – that takes faith.
And will provoke a renewing of the mind.