I hope this week has been a good one for you all. I have learned a lot since my last post. My grandfather taught me that as long as you learn one new thing a day, even if you don’t complete any work, you have still accomplished something. I have noticed a need for this post especially after my last post.
I chose to be real and sincere with every reader of this blog. I feel that you can’t understand what I am writing if you do not know where I am coming from. This does not only include my mindset but my history. The reason I am saying this is because there have been two distinct people who have read and reported on my blog. One see’s how God has worked in my life and is thankful that I found and followed him. The others are judgmental and at times cruel in their view of my actions.
For this reason I am writing about judgment today. As with everything I will give you a basic meaning of judgment from Merriam Webster: 1b. An opinion so pronounced. You will find there are multiple meanings for this word however I feel this is the one that best describes it. An opinion so pronounced, so a personal view (opinion) spoken to whoever will listen (pronounced). Now these opinions can have positive connotations or negative it is all in the way they are spoken or written.
It is important for all of us to remember that we all view things differently and that none of us can be ‘always right’. We are human and if you look back at the beginning of this blog you will see that as humans we all sin and make bad decisions. Because we are usually wrong in our assumptions then this thought process will usually bring us to wrong opinions.
How can we check ourselves in this process so that we don’t fall into the regular mistake making process? We go to the Bible, a written word beyond human understanding touched by the hand of God through the Holy Spirit. Here you will find multiple points on judgment.
John 8:4-9 (New International Version, ©2011)
4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the 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.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
9 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.
The leaders of that time placed judgment on a woman who had broken the law they lived by. The old law given to Moses by God. They were going to kill her by throwing different size rocks at her until she was dead. Jesus made a profound remark when he told them that they should first be sinless rather then judge her sin. This was not what they knew. It was not from their teaching. However, they knew he was right that is why they walked away. Not one of us is sinless and all sin is the same to God. It is the repentance of sin and acceptance of Jesus Christ that matters.
Paul killed and persecuted Christians. He chased them down tried them under the law and had them stoned. He was high on the food chain when it came to the religious knowledge of that day. God changed his heart and accepted his repentance and he became one of the most vocal disciples of the Bible. I am not comparing myself to Paul. I am pointing out that even what we think of as the greatest sin is forgiven and we (humans) shouldn’t judge those sins for it isn’t our place. God will judge us. Until then we have no right to judge others, as we ourselves are sinners.
Luke 6:37 (New International Version, ©2011)
Judging Others
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
It seems so simple yet our nature will not allow it. We need to fight against what we feel we should do and remember the words so that we will not judge but forgive.
Luke 6:41-42 (New International Version, ©2011)
41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Again the point is made. Instead of judging others first look at yourself. Put yourself in check and then you may instruct others on how they can help themselves. I am not saying that I don’t judge, again I am human I will sin. I do know that I shouldn’t judge and at most costs will catch myself and ask God through prayer for guidance. I have lead a different life than anyone out there because it is mine. I have not lived your life and you have not lived your neighbors. We will never know what the trials and struggles are for each one. We can either judge their actions and persecute them for their sin or we can forgive them as we have been forgiven. We can give them an ear for their issues and a heart for their trouble. In all things remember we are to LOVE one another. If we do truly treat each person with the love of a brother or sister in Christ we will help and hold them instead of standing at a distance and judge them.
1 comment:
how do you stay positive and treat everyone like a brother and sister when they refuse to treat you the same?
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