Judgement means to draw a conclusion about someone. The danger in judging is that we may come to a negative conclusion about someone or some people based on what we hear, lack of whole truths and incomplete pictures and scenarios. Now here is the other danger….GOD’S WORD SAID DON’T DO IT! Matthew 7:1-3 reads, “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.” That part…should be reason enough for you not to judge others. Judging others can be considered a sin. Why? It becomes sinful when it causes us to become arrogant, draw comparisons and humiliate others. Proverbs 18:12 says, “Do not exalt yourself by humiliating another.” The more you judge others, you hurt yourselves. Judgement hardens the heart and causes you to focus on and find the bad in people. This can lead to stress, depression, high blood pressure. Is judging others worth jeopardizing your health? I’m just saying. Are you wondering if you are a judgmental person? Well, if you are over critical, make negative assumptions without having all the facts, see the world through personal biases, lack empathy for others, devalue others in order to feel superior, see others as opponents or competitors or if you are often unhappy with yourself…you could have judgmental tendencies. Now we are not saying you are not entitled to your own opinions. But an opinion is different from judging. An opinion is a thought or belief about a person or something that is not founded on proof or certainty. It falls short of absolute conviction or positive knowledge. Where as judging someone…involves making snap judgments about someone’s intelligence, character or worth based on limited information. So who is the ONLY one who can judge? GOD. James 4:12 addresses God being the one true judge saying, “There is only one lawgiver and judge, He who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?” My brothers and sisters…we need to stay in our lane….and our lane does not include…judgement.
With Agape Love,
Willie Mae