Many people who are called out respond by saying “Don’t judge me!” as if judging someone is forbidden. Is it? The Apostle Paul says yes, stating that “you who pass judgment on someone else… are condemning yourself, because… you do the same things” (Romans 2:1).
But what if we don’t do the same things? Are we permitted to judge someone who does? Jesus said no when defending an adulterous woman, because no one attempting to judge is without sin (John 8: 1-11). As such, no one is qualified to judge another, at least in spiritual matters involving condemnation.
What about a judges in our courts of law? Are they qualified? Paul says yes, explaining that God instituted civil authority, and he who rebels against what God has instituted “will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:2), because a judge in our courts of law is “God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:4).
The above passages make a distinction between spiritual matters and civil/criminal law matters. God is the ultimate judge in the former; earthly judges rule in the latter.
If humans are unqualified to judge in spiritual matters, can we nevertheless form opinions? Yes, God gave us souls to understand right from wrong. The question then becomes: may we share our opinion with someone we believe is in the wrong? Hopefully, offering a good-faith opinion to that person is not a judgment and would be acceptable, if given in love and humility.