Judge Not or You Will Be Judged

It’s one thing to be judged, but to be a judge who is judged – takes judging to a whole new level – especially when the judge is Judge Amy Coney Barrett. I've watched some of the judging of her in the Senate Judiciary’s confirmation hearings. My “judging” about the “judging” is the Republican optimistic senators give favoring discourses while the other vindictive and mean side use their time to orate their political, negative biases. I judge Judge Barrett from my office chair. I am impressed with her calm spirit, her absolute brilliance under pressure and her poise. She doesn't even have to speak about her faith because you see it and feel it. She exudes peace in the midst of the storm. I “judge” that she must be dicing and slicing all the negativity she hears from one side and the positivity from the other. I believe she is staying in peace based on this scripture: “Those I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Me.” (Isaiah 26:3) As I type this, I wrestle with my own “judging”. And, God knows, I don’t want to be a judger because I don’t want to be judged. I often think that just maybe there’s a mini-Pharisee in me, especially when I get equally biased – applauding “my side” of the aisle and pointing a finger at those on the other side. I even must rein myself back in when I catch myself “judging” in my pew at church. Rather than surrendering my all to Jesus as I worship and praise Him, sometimes I will get distracted and start judging what a worship leader is wearing or how well they are singing or how well the pastor is speaking. In essence -- I am judging. Jesus said, “Do not judge and you will not be judged.” (Matthew 7:1) Lord, have mercy! I cringe to think of God judging me based on the way I judge others. So often, my judgment lacks mercy and compassion. And it lacks knowledge. I don't want to be judged by God and others with that standard. No question -- we should stand for righteousness and godliness. We should defend the weak and vulnerable. But there’s a massive difference between judging arrogantly and judging with humility. Arrogant judging says, “What a despicable, vile, weak person.” Humble judgment says, “Apart from the redemption of Christ, I’d be one of them." Arrogant judgment says, “I’m better than them.” Humble judgment says, “We both need Christ.” I think about Jesus Who wasn’t out to win a popularity contest with those who were doing everything right, but to help those who were struggling. He really drops the mic when He befriends the sinners (i.e., Zacchaeus, Mary Magdalene who was filled with seven demons, and Peter, a crass fisherman, and even Paul, who says himself "I was the worst of sinners." 1 Timothy 1:15). When I get on my “high-judgment horse” – I am not loving like Jesus loved. But as a humble follower of Christ, I take the time to see into that person who is so negative and try to understand the hurting soul inside them. In our political world of untold disagreements, it is easy to fall into the division of “us” vs. “them” and being the villains in each other’s stories. Instead of unifying, we have become part of the problem. But, Jesus' ways are not "us" vs "them". His ways are "Whoever comes to me I will certainly not turn away." (John 6:37) Please, Lord Jesus, keep me in check when the mini-Pharisee in me shows up judging!