We hear a lot of people accusing others of being “judgmental” these days. If you don’t agree with someone’s choices, way of life, or behavior, it’s considered politically incorrect to say so. You might offend them. If you don’t feel comfortable watching entertainment with certain activities going on in it, you’re considered judgmental.
Let’s look at that word “judge.” People bring up Jesus’ statement of “judge not that ye be not judged.” Yet, in everything we do throughout our day, we make judgements. We judge which piece of clothing is most appropriate for the activity we’re attending. We judge whether something is right or wrong, in line with our values or not, whether we feel good about something or not. We’re constantly judging things and ideas.
In fact, the primary function of the conscious mind is to decide whether to accept or reject input. It is the gatekeeper deciding what we’ll allow down into our subconscious minds where we hold our beliefs. Little children have no gatekeeper on their minds. Until about age 7-8, children accept everything they are taught as truth. This is why good parenting is so important. It’s why the entertainment children view is important to monitor. This is also why no matter how hard our parents try to do the right things; we’re often screwed up by the beliefs we formed as small children. Children are constantly forming subconscious beliefs based on how they perceive what they experience and see and hear around them.
Judging is an everyday part of life. So, what did Jesus mean? Let’s look at His example with the woman caught in adultery. This is a practical real-world application of Christ’s teaching. She was dragged before Jesus, having been caught in the very act of adultery. The people around her had stones, ready to put her to death. But someone got the bright idea to bring her to Jesus to see what He would say and do. Jesus stooped down before the woman, and began to draw on the ground.
Speaking to the crowd He said, “He that is without sin among you cast the first stone.” One by one, the accusers dropped their rocks and walked away, leaving the woman alone with Jesus.
Jesus then asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you?”
She answered, “No man, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
Notice that Jesus did not castigate, chide, criticize, denounce, belittle or sentence the woman (those are all synonyms for condemn). He also made no judgement about her eternal state. He didn’t say that she was evil or wicked. He didn’t invite everyone to shun her.
The one thing he DID do was tell her to change her behavior. Jesus did not condone her actions. He referred to them as “sin.” He didn’t say, “Let’s make a play about what you did and enact it as entertainment for everyone to watch the details.” He didn’t say, “It’s okay, keep on doing what you’re doing, we need more tolerance.” He told her to CHANGE her behavior.
Jesus didn’t judge the woman. He DID judge the actions or the behavior. He stood by His principles and morals, loved the woman, showed mercy; but did not condone the actions.
Inviting her to change her behavior was the LOVING thing to do. It is our responsibility to judge actions, ideas, and principles. As followers of Christ, we distinguish these from the actual person and allow God to be the judge of their soul. Ideally, we bring them to Christ and let Him invite them to change.
“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.” Ezra Taft Benson, “Born of God”
