Judging Someone: Is It The Right Thing To Do?
Written by: Kim Sawyer
Every day, we render judgment on someone just because they don’t act like us, talk like us, think like us, etc. In fact, more times than not, we treat this person as an outcast; or as someone who is weird; or as someone we don’t have time for. But is that the right thing to do? In the NIV Bible, Proverbs 30:12-13 refers to those “who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their own filth; those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful.” To me, these scriptures refer to someone who focuses on other people’s differences (or flaws), but minimizes their own to feel better about themselves. I do not want to be this type of person; therefore, I am constantly reminding myself that God will sometimes bring people into my life to expose me to something other than what I am accumstomed to; to expose me to things that I am not aware of; or better yet, to elevate me to the next level. I have to admit, there have been many times I have failed to recognize the hidden blessings that someone different from me presented. But as I get older, I’m learning to not just focus on the obvious. I am learning to look beyond the ‘outer’ presentation that we, as humans, typically focus on. I am learning to recognize the opportunities, and/or knowledge that people who think differently from me can bring to my life. I’m also starting to recognize that maybe; just maybe, God is using me as an example (good or bad) to help and/or guide someone who thinks, acts or believes differently than me.
May 27th, 2008 at 10:11 am
I enjoyed reading this Kim.
A few years ago, I prayed and asked God for a job working in the kingdom. To my amazement, I got a job with a Quaker organization. I thought God was playing a trick on me. I was talking about the Apostolic/Pentecost kingdom! But He wasn’t. The four years I worked there was the most eye opening experience of my life. I got to know Jesus from a difference viewpoint and perspective. I got to know other ambassadors for Christ that weren’t sitting in my congregation with me. I now know I wrongly judged people all my life.
I had been praying and asking God to change me into the person He wanted me to be, thus entered into my life the Quakers. One of the Quakers biggest doctrines/messages/life standards is: to see God in every human being. Bingo!
Quakers and their way of worshipping God are different. We rejoice loudly, they worship in silence. We come to church dressed in what we consider “our Sunday best” and they come as they are. We respect and honor our leaders and those we deem worthy to stand before us; while they respect, honor, and deem worthy everyone from the children on up. Now, I have not changed religions, nor will I. But I have changed an essential part of who I am.
I now try to see the God in everyone. Kim, I appreciate you talking about this. Sometimes we slip back into old patterns and someone or something jolts us back to where we need to be. Thank you for the jolt.
May 27th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Hey Kathy,
I’m glad you liked this post. I have been a Christian for only 7 years and I am constantly being corrected about my attitude and reaction to others. This post will be something I will refer to often to keep jolting me back to where I need to be.
May 27th, 2008 at 11:16 am
I try not to judge people, but I get caught up in it sometimes. As much as we say we shouldn’t, it’s hard not to. With me, if it’s universal general wrong I’ll say someting about it. I don’t comment on people personal lives especially if it doesn’t affect me.
May 27th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I agree….It is very hard not t judge. Honestly no matter how hard we try when we see a person for the first time we automatically have ideas about that person such as their status- marital, financially, socially….sometimes we even have ideas about the way a persons voice will sound if we have never spoken to them before. Its human nature to think things about people…good or bad. Its what we do with our thoughts that matter. Do we speak them and try to influence others to see it from our point of view? Do we act upon it and do things we have no basis to do? Or do we let the thought enter, process it to ourselves and leave it there -at self.
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