We humans are really, really quick to judge – a rush to judgment. Why? Because it neatly places the issue in its proper place. If it’s a person then it tells us how we are to respond to that person. As a creation we are most adept at putting people and things into boxes and then neatly stacking them to pull out when needed or wanted. No complications this way. But it is also limiting and it never allows for a second consideration.
Scripture (Matthew 7:1-2) admonishes us not to judge, especially since by the ‘measure’ we judge we will be judge. That pronouncement is like a cold splash of water in the face. But… does this stop us? Of course not! We have to have some way to assess and then categorize in order to appropriately respond. Right?
I suspect that there might be an outside chance that the above analysis would work… IF people responded in the way we expect them to. This doesn’t always happen which makes our initial analysis somewhat irrelevant. Have you ever played out a scenario in your head about how the other person will respond and then what you will say and then what they will say/do, etc. Most of the time the only relationship to our scenario is our own opening comment.
Certainly we all need ‘benchmarks’ of our understanding of the issue/person but when it comes to people, we have to always realize that people grow and change and make mistakes and act rationally and say things they regret, and, and… just like you do. Judging handcuffs you as much as the other person.
There is a slight caveat on not judging. Remember Paul admonishing the Corinthians (5:9) for not confronting a brother who was sinning? In this passage he tells us that we have to ‘judge’ in order to bring a brother back. This is totally different from what I’ve been saying. This passage has to do with immorality that is existing.
Remember… judging is not necessarily judgmental. Judging is our way of coping and can be changed. Being judgmental is always negative and inhibits you as much as the other person.
