Judging other people

This post is actually inspired by some events in my life right now where I am part of a support system for a person I love who is dealing with the legal system.

versus the judgement God tells us NOT to take part in and also TO take part in.

"Judge not, lest ya be judged"
to judge has two meanings:
to judge the position of the one having the authority of a judge, that is "to determine the guilt and, if there is such, to determine the degree of punishment."
also, to simple pass a positive or negative judgement about someone's actions or words without having authority to do anything about it.

Matthew 7:1 isn't talking about the authority figure. it's talking about judgements that we pass on each other everyday.. who are we to point fingers at other people, when we ourselves to not live perfectly righteous lives?

also, as people of faith, we cannot hold others without the same faith to the same standards as us. so judging someone who doesn't know Christianity in a way that we believe is wrong or right.. is wrong.

BUT, there is also the matter of judging good and bad amongst ourselves, because we are to hold each other accountable. so we are to help keep each other in line and on track, because we believe in the same moral standards based on our faith.