Judging Others

I can’t imagine how he ended up in a kill pen. How could anyone judge a beautiful black horse like Will and determine his life had no value? Was it his appearance? His gate? His breeding? His skills? I honestly don’t know. I’m just glad he was saved from the kill pen.

At first, Will was very timid, hard to catch and aloof. He had obviously been abused in the past. But now, he’s enjoying a new life at a new farm. And I’m so grateful to get to lease him for a while and shower him with love and acceptance!

Just as Will has been hurt by people who wrongly judged him, so have we. Being judged by others can cut deeply like a knife. We can be judged by our appearance, past or current actions, income, homes, religion, gender identity, politics, and even the friends we keep. And because we humans are so talented at the sport of judging, we do it naturally!

So, how do we judge others? For some, it’s such a normal part of everyday life. Don’t like how someone’s actions at work? Judge. Don’t like how someone handled something 10 years ago? Judge. Don’t like someone’s postings on facebook? Judge. Don’t like peoples’ opinions? Judge. Don’t like peoples’ gender identity? Judge. Disagree with someone? Judge. And we have no earthly idea, the pain we inflict on others.

Of course, we know in life, there is a place for judging others. People must be held accountable. No community can exist where nobody is held accountable. Teachers wouldn’t grade students.  Citizens wouldn't sit on a jury. Employees wouldn’t be held accountable for their work.

Jesus spoke about a different type of judging. He commanded us, “Do not judge.” (Matthew 7:1)  It’s the attitude that we do it with that God is most concerned about…”For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged.” (Matthew 7:2) It’s so easy for us dismiss people. This is not the way Jesus handled people. When Jesus told us in the Bible the harsh truth about our sin, He didn’t condemn us, reject us or dismiss us. He brought us close. He invited us to know Him and follow Him. Through Jesus, even as sinners, we can became his friend.

Imagine your relationships if you determined to stop judging people. No more negativity. No more gossip. No more dismissing others. No more cutting others down. No more holding grudges. How would you change? Grace is a beautiful gift to give. We all need extra grace. Just ask Will.

“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

"If you search for good, you will find favor; but if you search for evil, it will find you!" Proverbs 11:27 NLT)

"Judging others is a quick and easy way to feel good about ourselves. But that's the problem. God doesn't compare us to them. They are not the standard. God is. And compared to him, Paul argues in Romans 3:12, 'There is no one who does anything good'." Max Lucado, In the Grip of Grace

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.