Inner Transformation Over Outer Judgment
In Protestant theology, the prevailing idea is that salvation is attained solely through faith in Christ, rather than by human merits. This leads to an understanding of one’s own weakness and the human inability to achieve true righteousness, which in turn reduces the tendency to judge others. Every believer recognizes their dependence on the redemptive merits of the Savior, and this results in a focus on personal repentance and an internal struggle with sin rather than on judging one’s neighbor. Thus, the Protestant position often implies that the means of salvation is an experience of personal conversion and rebirth through faith, not a demonstration of external righteousness; consequently, blaming others appears inappropriate and devoid of spiritual foundation.Supporting citation(s):"The most vivid and paradoxical expression of this distinctive Christian position, constantly forgotten or misinterpreted by popular consciousness, lies in the assertion that a penitent sinner is more valuable than a righteous person, that 'there is more joy in heaven over one penitent sinner than over ninety-nine righteous persons.'
One cannot help but ask: why?One might imagine—and indeed it is usually assumed—that the penitent sinner deserves indulgence or even complete forgiveness, but then he, at best, only resembles the righteous person who has never sinned, or rather only approximates him in value. But why is he met with even greater joy or love than the righteous person? The texts of the Gospel leave not the slightest doubt here. A person judges and condemns himself, while God is concerned only with his salvation. In other words, the judgment pronounced by God, the ultimate judge, resounds within the human soul through the voice of one’s own conscience, yet despite this inexorable judgment, a person can still appeal to God for mercy and salvation, and this highest, final authority responds to that appeal with forgiveness, love, and salvation." (source: link txt)This idea underscores that the Protestant understanding of salvation shifts the focus from the external demonstration of virtues and righteousness to an internal turning toward God. As a result, judging others is seen not as a constructive act, but as an attempt to measure human frailties by standards that belong solely to God—thereby reducing the propensity to judge within the Protestant tradition.