Strong spirits: stop judging
Finding fault leaves me feeling that I am not as messed up as the other person. But I am.
Do you have people you really don't like? Individuals, or maybe an entire group? It's bound to happen. But that does not give us license to judge or condemn them. Jesus tells us we must not.
"Do not judge others so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you in the same way you judge others..." (Jesus in Matthew 7:1,2) Instead, he says, "Forgive others, and God will forgive you." (Luke 6:37)
It's just so easy to find fault. And so we do. Endlessly. And when I do, it leaves me feeling self-satisfied, that I am not as messed up as the other person. But I am. We are all sinners, and all in need of God's mercy.
Only God is in a position of correctly judging anyone. When we judge or condemn, we play God. Our job, with God's help, is to love, accept, and forgive. And to deal with our own problems before we try to correct others.
Of course, we do need to speak out when something or someone is wrong, evil, or unjust. But even then, we must do it with much love. How? With God's help, as we submit to him. Why? So we can effectively love the world, as He does.
Stop judging! Start forgiving!
Besides serving as pastor at Caledonia Church, Gary Schwerin is the Spiritual Development Minister for the Rockford YMCA and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford.
