1 CORINTHIANS 4:1-5

Judgment does not belong to us except where authority has been given. Another way to think about this is to insert the word, “pass,” before the word, “judgment.” We have no authority to pass judgment like a magistrate. This doesn’t mean that we have no authority or call to be discerning. On the contrary, we can and should determine, or judge the usefulness and morality of decisions and outcomes and decide for ourselves and those in our charge whether to conform to those things, but we cannot pass judgment upon them. Another way to think about this would be that we are guards but not kings. We except use discernment in upholding the king’s decree, but we do not make that decree or step in his place to execute it. Learning this balance is a large part of learning how to care for others in manhood.