We
like to make statements like, “Don’t
judge me”, “This is a judgment free zone,”
“It’s your call, do what you want.” While we throw these phrases around
like we are liberated to the point that we are okay to see people walking
around in their underwear at the mall, we still judge each other. Maybe not
because of a lack of attire, but because someone chose red briefs with black
polka dots and we thought they should have worn green ones with yellow stripes!
We
cast judgment all the time. We can take
one small scrap of evidence and build an entire story about someone based on
what we think we know to be true. Our judgments are based on our own
experience, perceptions and emotions thus rendering us subjective and
experiential.
Judgments,
constructed of partial truths, personal preference and biases built on emotion
rarely afford us an impartial view. When faced with that ugly reality we begin
to understand why we need laws to help govern our land, an Ombudsmen to inspect
our government and food safe regulations!
Seeking
truth often takes a backseat to being heard, validated or left to our own
devices.
It’s interesting
to me that we are quick to label God as judgmental. We assume that He is always
pointing a finger at us, frowning severely as he watches us fumble through life.
The
bible, our ultimate guide to all things “God”, offers us a window into his
character and we know that he is our judge but the bible does not paint a
picture of God as judgmental. There is a difference between these two words.
Judge:
to form an opinion through careful weighing of evidence
and testing of premises.
Judgmental:
tending to judge people too quickly and critically.
Before
we decide that God is judgmental we need to separate our stories from the facts.
Story:
God
does not accept me for who I am.
Fact:
God
did not send his Son to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be
saved through him. John 3:17
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved. Romans 10:13
Story:
If I try
to be good and keep the 10 commandments God will let me into heaven.
Fact:
All
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23
Christ
suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for
sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was
raised to life in the Spirit. 1
Peter 3:1
Only
God is perfect and without sin and sin is not tolerated in his presence.
Without his sacrifice on our behalf we are doomed
The
truth is, the stories that we make up about God are judgments. We create a
narrative that helps us feel better about the choices that we make. God does
not change, nor does He orchestrate your decisions. He created you to be free
to choose.
He
simply gives us a choice to follow Him or not. When we choose to ignore Him we
think he is judging us and all the while he is calling us to himself, saying,
“Come
to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will
give you rest. Matthew 11:28
