For a man in the disunited state of sin, each individual is a standard and criterion of good and truth. Thus, Bonhoeffer argues, the essence of fallen man is to be a judge. Obviously, this is a false judgment, since it does not arise out of union with God.

Reversing common sense, Bonhoeffer says that false judgment doesn’t arise from evil motives. Rather, the primal stance of being a judge is hte source of evil. It is not the case that “precisely when a man discerns his own foible in another man that he is impelled to condemn him with particular severity; in other words the spirit of judgement brings forth particularly poisonous fruit when it springs from the soil of inward mendacity, desperate indignation and resigned laxness with regard to a man’s own weakness.” At least, that is not the deepest truth of fallen humanity. Rather, taking a stance as judge of one’s fello men is to assume and perpetuate disunion, to destroy the possibility of reconciliation and love.

Jesus comes, however, to judge, to just righteous judgment. There is a judgment that arises from union with God in Jesus, and leads to reconciliation: For the disciple, “judgement will consist in brotherly help, in lifting up the falling and in showing the way to the straying, in exhortation and in consolation (Gal. 6; Matt. 18.15ff.), and also, if the need arises, in a temporary suspension of fellowship, but in such a manner that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus (I Cor. 5.5) . . . . It will be a judgement of reconciliation and not of disunion, a judgement by not judging, a judgement which is the act of reconciling.”