Judgement, Compassion, and Jesus
Judging others is a timeless human pastime. A characteristic that transcends time and terrain. An attribute that easily entraps all people, particularly people of any faith. And each time we judge someone, we diminish ourselves, denigrate others and dishonor God.
Throughout any given day, I find myself making judgements about people I know and don’t know. How could they think or act in a particular way? Why is that person such a (insert judgment)? Muttering moron as some driver cuts me off. My egocentric heart believing it’s always intentional because it’s always about me.
Spoken or silently said, I know I can’t hide my judgement of others from God. God knows my heart and God will judge me for my judgements of others. “Judge not that ye be judged,” reverberating in my heart each time I miss the mark. A mark I have and will continue to miss; hopefully not as much. Amazing grace.
With the rise of mass and then social media, we can now amplify our judgment of other people, while feeling virtuous about ourselves which is the worst kind of virtue. Its false, unearned, pretentious, condescending and anti-Love. Public judgements for personal gain.
Add money and influence as co-conspirators in our judgement of other people and the consequences are always disastrous and destructive. Words that are crafted to hurt, quickly spiral into actions that are created to harm. Flooding God’s good creation with tears that will inevitably follow our pronouncement of punishment.
Repentant and renewed, I realize that way too much of my life has been and is still about my judgement of other people. Before I tethered my heart to God, this rolling stone was all about gathering more stones. Weighing myself and other people down with my judgements, as opposed to God’s gracious love and loving grace.
I’m now trying to avoid making any judgements of other people. Extending the same grace God has given me and gives me still towards other people. Forgiveness for all trespasses; mine, yours, ours.
While it’s not our role to separate the sheep from the goats, the weed from the wheat or any other agricultural allegory, it is our obligation as disciples of Love to cultivate love by starting with ourselves. Cleaning up my own mess before criticizing the specs of dust in other people’s lives.
Not judging others doesn’t mean love abdicates accountability. Not as individuals and not as individuals involved in institutions. Whenever we observe or participate in any situation that’s not about doing unto others, we need to make it right. We need to name what is not love; we need to resolve it and we need to redirect ourselves to walk in the way of Love.
Walking in the way of Love continually chooses compassion towards other people even if other people ridicule you, persecute you and say all kinds of false evil against you. Candid compassion, like authentic love, is a gift that God extends to all people. A gift we’re meant to share with all people. A gift without judgement.
When Love is our guide, compassion is our compass. Giving us the strength to turn the other cheek, to give the coat off our back and to remember that none of us are without sin. Returning once more to judge not that you be judged. Remembering that when we pronounce our judgement on others that same measure will be used on us. Yikes if you’re like me.
Peccator cave; sinner beware. Be careful Don.
As opposed to believing that there is no heaven, my faith is about bringing heaven here in earth. Imagining a world where political disagreement leads to thoughtful talk. Differing interpretation of scripture leads to considerate conversation and divergent dialogue always is led by compassion not judgement of another person’s heart.
I follow Jesus because I believe in Jesus. I believe he died for all our sins, including the sin of judgment. I believe that I exist to serve God’s kingdom alone and not any earthly kingdom. I believe that loving God and all my neighbors is our purpose even if I/we fail.
And I believe and know that living a life of Love begins with compassion. Extending empathy, giving grace and being mindful of mercy. Love grows when our heart glows with God.
As he opens his song, What on Earth Will You Do (for Heaven’s Sake), Johnny Cash reminds us that when we think about judging or criticizing others; we should stop and think about our own faults. In doing so, we’ll never get to anyone’s else because we won’t be able to get through our own. Peace.