About Judgment

I've hit on this before in posts but here it is: unless you are literally God you don't KNOW all the issues in your neighbor's life, how they got the way they are -or seem to be in your view.

Even my pentecostal or charismatic friends with genuine spiritual gifts regarding words of wisdom, knowledge and discernment don't have the ability or capacity to fully know why a person thinks and does as they do. The background, the abuse/s, even the issues in an individual's sin nature are often far beyond such reasoning and judgement. But wait, it gets worse:

There are areas and times in which neither you nor I KNOW as God knows some or all of these very things about ourselves... -true?

Now, none of this makes sin anything other than sin in terms of a person's thoughts, desires, habits, addictions, treatment of others -let me be clear about that. Again, that's as true for you and I as it is for "them". The scriptures are often far more clear and obvious than many -theologians included- seem to conclude.

But one more point here: those you associate with regularly, really like, agree with in cultural and other areas of life are in the very same boat as you and I and you DO NOT routinely and fully know their every thought, hidden sin, even besetting/on-going sins though you may agree with them in terms of basic spirituality, social and political views and support the same sports teams, etc.. Got me yet?

I'm not saying there is no such thing as judging "righteous judgment", simply that none of us gets it right nor is always called by the Spirit to shout it out in each and every moment because of our own true limitations, our own lack of wisdom and our own actual flaws and sins.

See, judgment really IS the Lord's and if we are to be judged as we ourselves are judged there is but one Perfect, Sinless, Holy and ALL-KNOWING Judge and (He!) it ain't you or me!

Humility and deep honesty in these matters is essential for ALL of us. One reason why:

Perhaps such will help us to re-think about how to best love our neighbor... "as ourselves" as Jesus commands.

As always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn