Judge Not

I know that in general we all have judging moments, but I do not want to judge everybody for judging. Instead, I would like to point out why I feel like it is wrong for me to judge others. I live by a certain set of rules that everyone may not subscribe too, and I am not trying to force anyone into thinking they should live this way just because I feel like it is right for myself.

My belief that  judging others is wrong comes from the Bible. I know everyone does not feel this book has authority (I do), but most people would agree that there is wisdom that can be gained from its pages. Even so, I  want to point out that if one is a follower of Christ and if one does claim the Bible as true, then one should see that we are clearly commanded not to judge others.

This is where I am iffy. I want to call out all "Christians" who hatefully and ritualistically judge others, but I do not want to judge those people because then I myself would be no better than they. So, until I find more clarity on this particular aspect of the subject I will omit my opinions, thoughts, and strong feelings.

So instead, I would like to tell you all why I feel like I should not judge others. Actually, it is very simple. I believe it is wrong because the Bible expressly tells me that it is.

Jesus,  during a famous, "sermon" (the one on the mountain) said:

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 

Matthew 7:1-2

As you can see, Jesus is clear that I am not to judge others. Jesus definitively says, "Judge not." There is no stipulation, no variance, no unlesses. He just says do not do it. Then, He explains the results of judging others. This is a command followed by the consequences of disobedience. So there it is: the Bible says not to judge, but as I read the Bible I find it takes things a step further.

In fact, the Bible tells me to do the exact opposite of judging. It tells me to view others as better than myself. It doesn't say people we know and are familiar with--it just says others (including those strangers we have just seen for the first time). It tells me that I am supposed to live in a state of humility--a state in which I see others as greater than myself.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.  

Philippians 2:3-4

Yeah, this is hard. I can't judge, and I have to put myself in a position that allows others to be greater than myself. It all goes back to the commandments that sum up all other commandments. It all goes back to love.

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  No other commandment is greater than these. 

Mark 12: 30-31

Jesus loved us in this manner. He humiliated himself for our eternal souls, He left the side of His Father, came to a world that turned from Him, gave Himself over to death for the salvation of those who rejected Him, and took on the sin that would have forever condemned them to separation from their Creator. And all that He asks in return, is for us to love Him and love others. And one small aspect of that love is not judging others and humbling oneself.

So I don't want to judge others because the Bible says its wrong, but more importantly I do not want to judge others because not judging them will show them love. And by loving others, I show love to the God who greatly sacrificed for my undeserving benefit.

Really, when I really think about it, this is not asking too much of me.

So instead of looking at someone who is different than I am, or someone who believes differently than I do and placing a judgment upon them, I will love them. Instead of taking someone's life and showing them all the places I feel like they are doing wrong, I will love them. Instead of condemning others because of their personal lifestyle and personal choices, I will love them.  Because who am I to judge? Who am I to decide that what they choose is wrong, and what I choose is right? I have not been told to judge. I have only been told to love.

Consider this verse:

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 

John 3:17
                                                                                 

Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is God. God is holy, just, and righteous. God is the only real authority with the only real right to judge, and God sent Jesus to the earth not to judge. If the holy Son of God came here with an agenda other than judging the planet, then who am I to judge those in my life?

You can see this fact in Jesus' life. He ate and drank with 'sinners,' prostitutes, tax collectors (selfish men who used their position for personal gain), and those considered at that time to be the lowest of the low. He lived his life among those we are so quick to judge and hate. If he lived with them, then why on earth would I judge those like them, or anyone else?

There is a beautiful story in the Bible illustrating this very point. Jesus wisely points out that no one condemning this woman is worthy to judge her because they all have sin in their lives.

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 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. 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." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” 

John 8:2-11

Jesus did not come to the earth to judge or condemn, but instead to save the world. Therefore, since I follow Jesus' example and Jesus did not judge, then I am not to judge. I must forget my prejudice, my fear, my anger, and realize that I am not without sin. Because I am flawed, imperfect, defective, I cannot and should not place judgment on anyone else. In the Father's eyes we are all sinners, and no one is worthy.

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God… 

Romans 3:23

Nobody is perfect. We are all human. I must live in love, and leave the judgment to an all-knowing and holy God.