The danger of judging

March 21, 2022 (Monday)

 

Judging others can be a tricky, if not dangerous, thing. In some ways, we need to exercise common sense. However, we are warned about how we judge others. Often, we hear, or understand, that we are not to judge. But that is not necessarily the case.

 

Jesus noted, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” [Matthew 7:1 NIV] The gist of this is that the way and standard we judge will come back to bite us. Seriously, how many of us make judgments on what we see or think we know? How many of our judgments are based on what we hear? Is this really how we want to be judged?

 

Paul put it this way, “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” [Romans 2:1 NIV] The context is the “righteous” judging the “sinner.” This is what psychologists call “projection.”

 

When we judge (project), we are interpreting another’s behavior, attitude, or words from our own perspective. Thus, we expose the true nature of our inner being. Essentially, we are saying, "if I did or said that, it’s because I was thinking." What Paul is saying is that we tend to see the sins of others because they are our sins. Ironically, what is happening is that we are "shame dumping."

 

Judging others is a tactic to avoid our own sin. When we point out others' sins, we deflect attention from our own. We shame others to avoid our own shame. Here’s the problem: we are NOT God. We have no basis for judging based on truth. Worse yet, “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” [Romans 2:4 NIV]

 

What happens when we judge another’s sin (or spiritual state) while denying our own sin (or spiritual state) is that we presume our own spiritual superiority. We demonstrate contempt for God. Do we not understand that God’s kindness towards us is the same as it is toward others? Can we understand that kindness is intended to lead us (as well as them) to repentance?

 

To those who judge others and depend on their own form of godliness, Paul warns, “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” [Romans 2:5 NIV] Judging others is a symptom that we have an unrepentant heart. We deflect guilt and shame by projecting it onto someone else. It allows us to be comfortable when we are in serious trouble. This is not a good place to be.