Are you judgmental? The Reality and the Remedy. Romans 14.10-13

Do you often judge other people?                                                                   Are you quick to see what’s wrong in someone else’s life?                                    And are you even aware of how critical you are?

Why do we judge other people?  Sometimes because it is easier than judging ourselves; on the other hand, some people judge others, and are equally critical of themselves—almost to the point of being self-loathing!  In either case, I believe the root of judgmentalism is fear coupled with pride.  We judge as a way of feeling okay about ourselves—sometimes in a game of comparison.  We wonder if we ‘hit the mark’, and so we look around us . . . ‘Well, I think I am doing okay.  I mean, compared to that guy, I’m doing great!  Yeah, I’m a good person, all-in-all . . .’

Paul writes:

You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.  It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, 
‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Romans 14.10-13a

Paul is speaking to the matter of Christians judging other Christians, which was clearly a problem in the early Church and is still a problem today!  Unfortunately, Christians in our culture are seen as judgmental of others outside the church as well—in both cases, it hurts the cause of Christ.

In these few short verses, Paul gives us both the reality of the situation and the remedy. 

Reality: Christians struggle with being judgmental of others.  However, there is only one God, and you are not he, and neither am I.  One day, all of us will stand before God, at the judgment seat, to give an account of ourselves.  One day, every knee will bow to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Remedy: Let’s look not to judge others, but only ourselves.

Hmmm . . . maybe I need to pray about this:

“Lord, show me how to see myself rightly.” 

>Rightly, Child?  By that, do you mean how I see you?  I see you one of two ways: forgiven and cleansed by the blood, or not.

“Wow, God!  That’s simple, and maybe a little harsh, eh?—I mean, if I fall into the ‘not’ category—well, tell me more—what do you mean by that?”

>Well, Child, you know that I love you—why, I love you enough to want you to be with me forever!  I love you enough that I gave up my most precious treasure so that you could be with me; I gave you Jesus.

“No offense, God, but what does that have to do with being forgiven and cleansed by the blood?”

>Well, from the start, sin had to be covered by the offering of innocent blood—hence, the sacrificing of spotless lambs on the altar to make recompense for sin…until the time was right, and Jesus became the sacrificial Lamb, the perfect sacrifice, offered once and for all.  If being ‘good’ or ‘upholding the Law’ were enough, Jesus would be irrelevant. 

  Here’s the thing, Child—when you are ‘good’, as you say, what do you mean ‘good’, as compared to what?  The standard is holiness, perfection, righteousness—when you are ‘good’, is your life perfect?  Is your life pure? 

  Another reason why judging others is of no value to you—you shouldn’t compare yourself to others—compare yourself only to my holiness. 

“But, God—come on . . . I mean, you know there is no way I can be perfect!”

>Exactly.  But when you trust in my Son, when you go to him for forgiveness of your sins, I see his blood covering you.  No, you can’t be perfect, that’s why you need him.  If there was any other way, I would tell you—there isn’t. 

“Okay, so it seems like we might be a little off topic, God—no offense—how do I see myself rightly then?”

>By trusting in me, seeking my forgiveness . . . and letting the Holy Spirit within you refine you, and change you, and transform you.  Child, it isn’t about you being perfect, it is about you being forgiven and loved—by me.  They say ‘to know me is to love me’ . . . you can know me from my Word; once you love me, well, you will want your life to honor me, and well, you’ll see—the rest just follows. 

  The more you dwell on me, the more you will love me, and love for others flows from that—and honestly, the more you love me, the more you love others---well, there just isn’t any room left for judgment.  love is the remedy for judgment … my love.

Christine