| I've been thinking lately about how we are so quick to judge other people, or criticize them if we don't agree with what they do or how they behave. I know I've been guilty of judging people based on how they dress, how they act, or who they seem to hang out with. How I perceive them based on these things affects how I treat them. But is this really right? Do we have the right to judge? Who are we, anyway? Only humans, with faults, just like everyone else. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." (Matthew 7:1) I believe that we can try to gently persuade others that their ways are wrong, but we don't have the right to judge their worth or condemn and shun them because of something about them that they don't like. The only people that Jesus judged and condemned harshly were those that judged, looked down upon, and condemned others. (think Pharisees) He ministered by showing love and acceptance. In one story, the religious leaders brought to him a woman who had been caught in adultery and waited for him to condemn her and let them stone her, as the law dictated. Instead, he bent down and wrote in the dirt at his feet. (don't ask me why) Then he looked up and said, "If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again, he bent down and wrote in the sand. Those that heard him began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left. Jesus asked the woman where the others were. "Has no one condemned you?" he asked. "No one, sir." she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." He who could have punished her for breaking his law instead chose to show mercy. How much less can we do for others? I'm talking about little things about people we don't like (odd shoes, bad breath, weird hairdos and habits, etc.) (Let them be odd if they want to, for crying out loud. It's their choice.) and bigger things we don't approve of. I do believe that it is wrong if my right to do something interferes with another person's rights. Ex: a behavior of mine shouldn't harm another person. I believe that there are behaviors that are wrong, as defined by God, and I believe there are consequences to our actions and that those who know what's right and wrong should try to steer those who are doing wrong away from that. However, I don't think we should let what they do affect how we treat them. There are some exceptions to all this, but I think what I've said generally works. I'm still working all this out, and my thinking may still be a bit flawed, but this is what I've come up with so far. I know that I still fail at times, and it will probably take me a long time to get it right (if I ever do). But I get really tired of people going like "Eww, I don't like her because she does this." or "Oh, you don't want to get near him because he does this." That's not right. We shouldn't judge people based on appearances or on just what someone else says about them. Feel free to comment, disagree, add to what I've said, whatever. Like I said, it's not fully worked out. |
