The definition of judging in the context to which we refer according to various dictionaries is “to form or build an opinion about something or someone, whether it is a person or entities.“
Since our foundations must be biblical, I would like to refer to Jesus’ own teachings and in the Sermon on the Mount, which is practically the beginning of His ministry. He dedicates a section in Matthew 7:1- 5, where He says,
“Judge not, lest you be judged. 2 For with the judgment with which you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure with which you measure, it will be measured to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, and do not notice the beam that is in your own eye? 4 Or how will you say to your brother: Let me take the speck out of your eye, and behold, the beam is in your eye? 5 Hypocrite! first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
This makes it very clear to us that it is an error to judge since all of us, without exception of anyone, are in the same condition and apt to be judged, as Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, when it speaks of wisdom and senselessness:
“Certainly there is no just man on earth, do good and never sin.”
Also Paul in his letter to the Romans 3: 10-12, tells them,
“10 Thus it is written: There is not one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12 They have all gone astray, together they have corrupted themselves. There is no one who does good; there is not one!”
In the same chapter in verse 23 he says:
“23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Somehow, we have fallen into the temptation to judge. Every time we make a comment about someone, we are creating one or several stories that are usually the result of our imagination, that is, we are assuming. Without realizing it, we are assuming what may be happening in the life of that other person. We are falling into the temptation of completing the information that you do not know with an invented story. And many times, we are not aware of it. People are quick to judge others, but slow to correct themselves.
Where does this inclination to judge come from?
We find in Romans 12:3 that Paul writes,
“3 I say, therefore, by the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, think no more highly of himself than he ought to think, but think accordingly. yes with wisdom, according to the measure of faith that God distributed to each one.”
The reason why we judge is closely related to the concept that we have of ourselves. Consciously or unconsciously, we feel or believe that we are better than others. We prefer to observe from a distance that person who we believe is not acting correctly. We prefer it this way because this somehow makes us feel better about ourselves.
Surely at some point you have found yourself isolated because no one knew what you were facing. Surely the phrase passed through your mind, “If they knew what I am suffering or what I am going through…” Most likely, those people whom we judge without knowing, are thinking that way. Is it very different when we are the ones on the other side.
Let’s think for a moment that even if you were right and the other person is acting badly in our perception, who are we to blame them? Which of us is perfect? We have all been wrong at some point.
In the letter of James 4:11-12 it says,
“11 Brethren, do not gossip about one another. He who murmurs against his brother and judges his brother, murmurs against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12 Only one is the giver of the law, that he can save and lose; but you, who are you to judge another?”
In the great confession of faith that we repeat every Sunday we affirm that we believe that He will be the judge of the living and the dead on the great final day, which is referring to what is written in Revelation 20:12-15,
“12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before God; and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged by the things that were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; and they were judged each according to his works. 14 And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
That is, the trial will take place at a specific time and it will be Jesus Christ himself who does it, we do not have that right. Luke writes in the book of Acts 10:42:
“42 And he commanded us to preach to the people, and testify that he is the one whom God has appointed as Judge of the living and the dead.”
Again, we find that authority is only granted to Jesus Christ. It is very important to know this because unconsciously when we judge we are taking the place that belongs SOLEY to Jesus and this something that we should never do.
Since the position of judging corresponds to Jesus Christ, I want to conclude with the following recommendation to avoid falling into the temptation to judge. In order to refrain from being judgmental, follow the great golden rule, that we find in Matthew 7:12,
“So, all whatever you want men to do to you, so do you also to them; for this is the law and the prophets.”
In this way we could avoid feeling superior or with certain rights above others and instead, we would become instruments that transmit God’s love to all those who need it. – Amen
Rev. Rafael A. Martinez