Here Come da Judge!
"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you pass judgment you do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you towards repentance?"
- Romans 2:1-4
The title of this blog sounds familiar to those of us who grew up in the 50's and 60's. The saying "Here Come da Judge!" was actually coined by a black comedian, Pigmeat (Dewey) Markham. He first used the phrase on the Ed Sullivan show in the late 60's. The same phrase was made even more famous by Sammy Davis Jr. on Rowan and Martin's "Laugh In", and was also used by Flip Wilson on his show. Always got a laugh! We could all use that phrase, because we all make ourselves judges at one time or another.
Judgment starts early. The little girl comes home from kindergarten crying because someone has said she is ugly. The junior high student is judged by the name on the back of the jeans she's wearing. Later, students with less than stellar grades or no athletic talent are put into a different "society" than the 'popular' kids have. They just don't fit in. And adults do it too. We judge parenting skills, who has the most toys, what people buy or don't buy. Sometimes we don't say it out loud, but we sure do think it.
Christians are not immune from this either. Quite the contrary. We can be some of the cruelest people ever in our judgment of others. Because we believe the Bible as absolute truth, we consider it our right and our duty to point out how others are not adhering to the commands we read there. It never fails, though. When I judge someone else for their behaviors, I find myself doing something very similar really soon. May not be exactly what I was criticizing, but it's just as wrong.
Society has changed dramatically in the area of judgment. Years ago, society was very unforgiving to those who made mistakes or were different than the mainstream. An unwed mother was shamed for life, even though the ones judging may have been guilty of the same or similar sin. It seems in this particular area the sin was mostly in getting caught. People were held to such a high standard that mercy and grace really had no place. It was all about proper behavior.
Fast forward to 2014. Now, anything goes, and the only thing to be ashamed of is holding standards of right and wrong. If a person makes the mistake of criticizing a belief or behavior, he is labeled 'intolerant', and the social stigma is automatically applied. Nothing or no one has the right to apply judgment to anyone else. It's all about our "own truth", and each person is the ultimate authority on his or her behaviors and beliefs.
We as Christians know this is not the case. Our truth lies in our relationship with Christ, the words given us in the Bible, and the experiences we share with each other in Him. Because He gives us such a clear guideline about truth, we have to guard ourselves constantly against the desire to pound this truth into others. Mother Theresa said it quite well: "If you judge people you have no time to love them." I believe it is by loving, not judgment, that change will be seen in behaviors.
Isn't that the way God approached us? Do you remember the beginning of your relationship with Christ? Was it because of an angry, judging spirit of God that you came to Him? Or was He loving, meeting you right where you were, and taking you step by step to become more like His Son? Not being judgmental is very important to God, I believe. So important, there are numerous other references to it in scripture:
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 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? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
-Matthew 7:1-6
"There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor."
- James 4:12
Most of the scriptures referring to judgment are in reference to the only one who is able to judge-God. He is the only righteous judge, and the only one with the RIGHT to judge. And we should leave it to Him.
In an article in the magazine "In Touch", author Daniel Darling teaches us about judgment. He tells of British author and thinker G.K. Chesterton. Chesterton was invited by a London newspaper to offer his opinion on what was wrong with the world. The story tells that Chesterton sent a one line letter in reply:
'Dear Sirs,
I am.
Sincerely yours,
G.K. Chesterton'
Darling points out how we as a people are prone to notice everyone else's need to change and ignore our own. He believes this standing nurtures grudges and builds walls between us. When we are reminded about our own desperate need for grace, we can better understand this is a need we share with everyone, even the person we are wanting to judge. This paragraph in his piece spoke to me:
"It wasn't until I stopped to listen to the Holy Spirit and consider my own sin that I found the warm waters of grace wash over my soul. The gospel, applied to our relationships, enables forgiveness and repentance to do its work. Repentance points the finger inward, acknowledging our sin before God and others. And forgiveness stands ready to let Jesus' mercy flow through us toward those who have hurt us by their words and actions."
And one final quote:
“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
....."The grace which others are just as entitled to as we are." HMMMMMM. That person I condemn, even if only secretly, for sins I consider abhorant, SHE is just as entitled to as much grace as I am???? Absolutely. He loves and accepts her right where she is as He did me? Of course. He wants HER with Him for eternity too? Yup.
You know, not having to judge others is really freeing. It gives me the opportunity to experience joy no matter what others are doing. It keeps me focused on my relationship with Him rather than wasting that energy with criticism, anger, and yes, even hatred. It gives me time and opportunity to work on that plank in my eye instead of looking for everyone else's speck. It's freedom of the best kind.
You know, marriage is one excellent place to work on this judgment thing. I wonder if there is one more person out there who is like me. Of course, I am right 99.9% of the time in my marriage conflicts, and that gives me the right, even the duty, to judge him guilty in any argument or disagreement. Consequently, even if I choose to extend grace, it is done in a self-righteous, still judgmental attitude. OH MY GOSH! This may be the relationship that tests us the most in following our Savior. In our closest relationships, extending grace and love may be the hardest. But I believe, in God's eyes, when it's the hardest, that's when it pleases Him the most.
Do I have this judgment thing down? Are you kidding me? I fight it all the time. I want truth, justice, and the American way........ and because that person is wrong they should get theirs right now! But when I allow the Holy Spirit to take control of my emotions, the judgment does leave and I can see that person as a hurting soul, who desperately needs the comfort and love of a forgiving Savior. And, with His help, the judgment flies away and joy replaces it. And with it, peace, that passes all understanding.
- Romans 2:1-4
The title of this blog sounds familiar to those of us who grew up in the 50's and 60's. The saying "Here Come da Judge!" was actually coined by a black comedian, Pigmeat (Dewey) Markham. He first used the phrase on the Ed Sullivan show in the late 60's. The same phrase was made even more famous by Sammy Davis Jr. on Rowan and Martin's "Laugh In", and was also used by Flip Wilson on his show. Always got a laugh! We could all use that phrase, because we all make ourselves judges at one time or another.
Judgment starts early. The little girl comes home from kindergarten crying because someone has said she is ugly. The junior high student is judged by the name on the back of the jeans she's wearing. Later, students with less than stellar grades or no athletic talent are put into a different "society" than the 'popular' kids have. They just don't fit in. And adults do it too. We judge parenting skills, who has the most toys, what people buy or don't buy. Sometimes we don't say it out loud, but we sure do think it.
Christians are not immune from this either. Quite the contrary. We can be some of the cruelest people ever in our judgment of others. Because we believe the Bible as absolute truth, we consider it our right and our duty to point out how others are not adhering to the commands we read there. It never fails, though. When I judge someone else for their behaviors, I find myself doing something very similar really soon. May not be exactly what I was criticizing, but it's just as wrong.
Society has changed dramatically in the area of judgment. Years ago, society was very unforgiving to those who made mistakes or were different than the mainstream. An unwed mother was shamed for life, even though the ones judging may have been guilty of the same or similar sin. It seems in this particular area the sin was mostly in getting caught. People were held to such a high standard that mercy and grace really had no place. It was all about proper behavior.
Fast forward to 2014. Now, anything goes, and the only thing to be ashamed of is holding standards of right and wrong. If a person makes the mistake of criticizing a belief or behavior, he is labeled 'intolerant', and the social stigma is automatically applied. Nothing or no one has the right to apply judgment to anyone else. It's all about our "own truth", and each person is the ultimate authority on his or her behaviors and beliefs.
We as Christians know this is not the case. Our truth lies in our relationship with Christ, the words given us in the Bible, and the experiences we share with each other in Him. Because He gives us such a clear guideline about truth, we have to guard ourselves constantly against the desire to pound this truth into others. Mother Theresa said it quite well: "If you judge people you have no time to love them." I believe it is by loving, not judgment, that change will be seen in behaviors.
Isn't that the way God approached us? Do you remember the beginning of your relationship with Christ? Was it because of an angry, judging spirit of God that you came to Him? Or was He loving, meeting you right where you were, and taking you step by step to become more like His Son? Not being judgmental is very important to God, I believe. So important, there are numerous other references to it in scripture:
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 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? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
-Matthew 7:1-6
"There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor."
- James 4:12
Most of the scriptures referring to judgment are in reference to the only one who is able to judge-God. He is the only righteous judge, and the only one with the RIGHT to judge. And we should leave it to Him.
In an article in the magazine "In Touch", author Daniel Darling teaches us about judgment. He tells of British author and thinker G.K. Chesterton. Chesterton was invited by a London newspaper to offer his opinion on what was wrong with the world. The story tells that Chesterton sent a one line letter in reply:
'Dear Sirs,
I am.
Sincerely yours,
G.K. Chesterton'
Darling points out how we as a people are prone to notice everyone else's need to change and ignore our own. He believes this standing nurtures grudges and builds walls between us. When we are reminded about our own desperate need for grace, we can better understand this is a need we share with everyone, even the person we are wanting to judge. This paragraph in his piece spoke to me:
"It wasn't until I stopped to listen to the Holy Spirit and consider my own sin that I found the warm waters of grace wash over my soul. The gospel, applied to our relationships, enables forgiveness and repentance to do its work. Repentance points the finger inward, acknowledging our sin before God and others. And forgiveness stands ready to let Jesus' mercy flow through us toward those who have hurt us by their words and actions."
And one final quote:
“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
....."The grace which others are just as entitled to as we are." HMMMMMM. That person I condemn, even if only secretly, for sins I consider abhorant, SHE is just as entitled to as much grace as I am???? Absolutely. He loves and accepts her right where she is as He did me? Of course. He wants HER with Him for eternity too? Yup.
You know, not having to judge others is really freeing. It gives me the opportunity to experience joy no matter what others are doing. It keeps me focused on my relationship with Him rather than wasting that energy with criticism, anger, and yes, even hatred. It gives me time and opportunity to work on that plank in my eye instead of looking for everyone else's speck. It's freedom of the best kind.
You know, marriage is one excellent place to work on this judgment thing. I wonder if there is one more person out there who is like me. Of course, I am right 99.9% of the time in my marriage conflicts, and that gives me the right, even the duty, to judge him guilty in any argument or disagreement. Consequently, even if I choose to extend grace, it is done in a self-righteous, still judgmental attitude. OH MY GOSH! This may be the relationship that tests us the most in following our Savior. In our closest relationships, extending grace and love may be the hardest. But I believe, in God's eyes, when it's the hardest, that's when it pleases Him the most.
Do I have this judgment thing down? Are you kidding me? I fight it all the time. I want truth, justice, and the American way........ and because that person is wrong they should get theirs right now! But when I allow the Holy Spirit to take control of my emotions, the judgment does leave and I can see that person as a hurting soul, who desperately needs the comfort and love of a forgiving Savior. And, with His help, the judgment flies away and joy replaces it. And with it, peace, that passes all understanding.
Comments
Post a Comment