We are familiar with God’s Righteous Judgment:
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?
Romans 2: 1-3 (NIV)
One major human fault is a rush to judgement. Nowhere is this vice more prevalent than in today’s wacky world of social media, where all social filters are “off” and where anything seems to go. Decorum and common courtesy seemed to fly out the window with the advent of thumb typing.
I’m appalled at the name calling and judgmental attitudes I see in religious, political, and even benign posts.
Why do people do this?
When people are passionate about a topic, they want their point of view to be understood. For me, when someone’s opinion is completely opposite mine, I assume they don’t understand the full ramifications of the stand they’ve chosen because they certainly
Well, who am I to judge? What if I’m the one not understanding the whole picture?
The fact is, none of us see the full picture and God has designed life that way.
Instead, He calls us to trust and follow Him. But most importantly, He’s asked us to Love One Another.
If we’re committed to loving one another, then by definition, we must not judge one another. We must let God be the judge. Remember the adulteress?
3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the
John 8: 3-7 (NIV)Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
If we keep our eyes focused in the mirror instead of casting stones at people all around us, we can enjoy the benefits of growing our relationship with the Lord and allowing Him to be the judge.
If we look at ourselves honestly and acknowledge our own sinfulness, we see that our time is best spent tidying up our own messes. Righting our own wrongs. Changing our own errant ways.
Let’s focus on keeping our own houses in order. Use our precious time here on earth to bring us closer to God, preparing for eternity in heaven.
God has the rest covered.
Godspeed.
Do you find yourself judging others? Let me know in the comments.