Can I Judge Those Who Judge?

By carolynpriesterjones on August 1, 2024

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Jesus said, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."

Matthew 7:1

As I have gotten older, my tolerance has expanded. I still believe some things are right and some things are wrong. But I am more open to trying to understand why people believe or behave as they do.

I am interested in seeing what beliefs are beneath the behavior they are expressing out front. Many people do what they do because they want to be seen … noticed … simply matter … be remembered.

Besides looking at victims of violence, I also look at perpetrators of violence and try to understand how they came to be perpetrators.

I look at the sins of other people and sadly feel a kinship with them. I may not have acted on my feelings yet, but I often was tempted in the same way.

Sometimes I realize I have sinned in the same way. I am not so quick to condemn. I understand.

I have discovered I was wrong about some things I once passionately believed. Therefore, I have more patience with people who may be wrong about what they believe.

I know I was never converted by people telling me how wrong I was. I changed when they listened to me and prayed God would show me what He wanted me to see.

So in doing a self assessment recently, I felt good that I had become so non-judgemental.

Then God tapped me on the shoulder and showed me who I was still judging.

I have been amazed at some of the rhetoric that has come from Christians in recent days.

Whether it has been about politics or about the Olympics opening ceremony, people have had some very unkind comments. They have been pronouncing judgements left and right.

God said, "So, Carolyn, are you judging those who are judging?"

Gulp. 😳

Yes, I am still working that one out with Him. How do we deal with this issue of knowing what's right and wrong without getting into judgement?

I will have to get back with you on that in a future post. Stay tuned!