Posts Tagged: judging others

“The Limits of Non-Judgmentalism”

Matt. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.

Matt. 7:2 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, English Standard Version)

This morning, in my virtual 12-step meeting, we discussed the topic of judgmentalism. There were many wise and helpful comments made.

A couple of people pointed out that judging—even when you don’t have a lot of facts—is not always a bad thing. In fact, there are times when swiftly judging people or circumstances might keep us alive. If someone pulls a gun and waves it around, it might be wise to make a quick judgment. One person pointed out that there are times when judgment might be better called “discernment”.

But the consensus of the group seemed to be that judgment was a bad thing. One of my fellow-addicts said that he used to judge people by the cars they drove. If a person drove a fancy car, they were a “jerk”. (I cleaned this up a bit, compared to the word my 12-step friend actually used.) Then, he met a guy who was the nicest guy in the world. The guy was driving a BMW the first time they got together for coffee. They became good friends.

Of course, I was thinking about what Jesus said about judging. As Oswald Chambers pointed out long ago, Jesus had a very simply admonition for those who are inclined to judge: DON’T! To quote a more recent philosopher, Bob Newhard, “Stop it!

As we were talking in my group, I suddenly realized that I had been adding something to Jesus’ command that isn’t actually there. I had been adding to Jesus’ words, which is probably not the wisest thing in the world to do. Jesus said, “Don’t judge.” I had understood this to mean “Don’t judge others.” I looked at the Greek New Testament for Jesus’ command. To my shock, it doesn’t have a direct object. There is no word “others” in this verse.

Now, in the immediate context, it is clear that Jesus is referring to not judging others. So, I was not totally off-base in my interpretation. However, I wonder why Jesus didn’t make it clear from the get-go that he was talking about judging others. Of course, it is always hazardous to speculate as to why someone didn’t say something. Still, I wonder. Is it possible that Jesus was saying that we should not even judge ourselves?

In fact, the Apostle Paul does say it this way in a letter to Corinthian believers. Paul says, “I don’t even judge myself.” (1 Corinthians 4:3-5) It may be that Paul was unpacking and applying this saying of Jesus.

In any case, here is what I’ve noticed: The more I judge myself in a harsh and unhealthy way, the more I tend to judge others in the same way. Perhaps I just get tired of judging myself and project my self-blame onto others. It is also possible that judging others is simply more fun.

I think I need to take a break from judging myself for a while. After all, it is God who is ultimately the Judge. And God will judge me with love, fairness, and compassion.

There is also a persistent rumor that God judged all the sins of all the people of the whole world at the cross of Christ. If that is true, then we need to get off our own backs as well as everybody else’s back.

“Burning my Black Robe”

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;” (Luke 6:37 English Standard Version)

I like to think of myself as not being very judgmental. This is true—as long as you see things the same way I do and don’t do anything that irritates me. In other words, I am very judgmental. I don’t like judgmental people. A lot of my self-dislike and self-criticism flow from my tendency to judge.

When it came to judging, Jesus had some very direct words: “Don’t do it!” Leon Morris has some good observations on vs. 37.

“Jesus’ opposition to our judging other people is put in a peremptory command, Judge not. He goes on to the consequence, you will not be judged. A similar injunction to avoid condemning follows and an instruction to forgive. In all this Jesus is not of course rejecting legal processes. He has in mind not law-courts but the all-too-common practice of assuming the right to criticize and condemn one’s neighbours. This, he says, we must not do. It is not quite clear whether you will not be judged refers to the present judgment people pass or the future judgment of God or both. If we are harsh with our judgments on other people we generally find that they return the compliment and we ourselves are widely condemned, whereas if we do not pass judgment on others our neighbours are slow to condemn us. But the words apply also to more permanent consequences. The person who judges others invites the judgment of God upon himself. It is the one with the forgiving attitude who is forgiven. This is not salvation by merit: rather the thought is that the true disciple is not judgmental. When God accepts people God’s grace changes them. A forgiving spirit is evidence that the person has been forgiven.”[1]

So, I am going to make a serious attempt over time, beginning today, to be more aware of when I feel like judging. Then, I’m going to shut my mouth and think about what would happen if God judged me the way I am inclined to judge my fellow-sinner. I’m going to burn my black judge’s robe. It never fit me well anyway.


[1]Leon Morris, Luke: An Introduction and Commentary, TNTC 3; IVP/Accordance electronic ed. (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 152.

“The Sin of Assuming”

“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5, English Standard Version)

“Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14:4, English Standard Version)

I am continuing to explore my own nature. Some of my discoveries are pleasant. Sometimes, I come to a pleasant vista and am blown away by the view.

At other times, I uncover a nest of poisonous snakes. Take yesterday, for example.

A few days ago, I decided that I did not know the Holy Spirit very well at all. God the Father? Yes, a little. Jesus the Son? Somewhat. But the Holy Spirit? Not so much. Yesterday, I realized that this was a serious mistake.

My wife and I were in the car, talking about people who have different ideas about covid vaccines and freedom than we do. I realized that I was assuming that those who don’t agree with my position are simply wrong. I mentioned this to my wife and said, “Well, here’s something else that the Holy Spirit is showing me that I need to work on—making assumptions about other people. I’m going to work on that, but it’s not going to be easy.”

Then we pulled up to a red light. We were in the left turn lane. When the green arrow lit up for our lane, the traffic didn’t move for a long time. (Okay. So maybe it was just three seconds.)

“The driver of the car in front of the line was probably playing with his phone,” I growled.

My wife immediately called me out for making an assumption. “This really isn’t going to be easy,” I replied.

So, a few minutes later, I was standing in line at my favorite restaurant in Sarasota, Yoder’s. I told Sharon to wait in the car while I stood in line. She had been on her feet a lot and was tired. I would call her when I got close to the door. (What a thoughtful husband, right?)

Not long after I got in the long line, a couple of ladies joined me. I turned around and was talking with them when a very tall gentleman quietly stepped in line in front of me. I gave his back a startled and disapproving look and thought about saying something to him. Fortunately, the woman in front of him gave him a little smile, which looked like the sort of smile that a wife would give to her husband who was parking the car while she stood in line. And that is the way it turned out.

“This is not going to be easy at all!” I said to myself. “In fact, it’s going to be really difficult!”

What’s wrong with making assumptions? A lot.

For starters, making assumptions is often (always?) a euphemism for what the Bible calls “judging”. Jesus, the Apostle Paul, James the brother of Jesus, and the book of Proverbs all warn us against making judgments about others. Paul even says that he doesn’t judge himself! (See 1 Corinthians 4:3-4 for further details.)

Another problem with assumptions is that they are shortcuts that avoid the necessary, difficult work of really observing, listening, and thinking through complex issues. And let’s face it: Humans are complex critters. But whether you’re talking about humans or microbes, is there any real shortcut for sustained observation and thoughtful engagement? If there is, I haven’t discovered it yet. Of course, I keep trying.

Then too, making assumptions is a sign of pride. Assuming that we know what motivates others to think and speak and act as they do means that we know them even better than they know themselves. Now, of course, I don’t always understand why I myself think and speak and act as I do, but when it comes to other people . . .

So, I am thinking about starting a new twelve-step program: Assumers Anonymous. We can’t use the letters A.A., because they are already taken. But I assume that we’ll sort out what to call ourselves.

I also assume that there a lot of people who would benefit from such a group.

Oops! There I go again!

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