Liba Hopeson
BTC, Pfutsero
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]wo men were quarreling for a petite matter, yelling at each other stridently, and they were almost into fight. An onlooker saw and heard them shouting at each other. He did not intervene and stop them bicker and fight. For, by seeing them, he was disgruntled and exasperated.Thus, he went back home, judging them in his heart that they should not fight over such a silly matter. When he reached home, he shared about the incident he had seen to his family members. He said that he was really flabbergasted by seeing them.
The family had a visitor at that very hour. So, the visitor began to judge the man in his heart, asking, what he thinks of himself and judge others with unctuous quality. But, since he was a guest there, he thought that he should not utter any word. Yet, he was unhappy with the way the man judge those two men who quarreled. Then, a lady from the family had sensed that the visitor was judging her brother in his mind. So, she was irked by seeing his judgmental attitude and said to herself, what he thinks of himself and judge my brother. But she also didn’t speak out any word because he was a visitor.
Taking the scripture, do not judge others (Luke 7:7), many preach boldly and even rebuke those who judge others. For me to preach on this kind of topic is a hard thing. I don’t mean that we should never preach or it is wrong to preach on it, but it is just my little personal problem – some practical intricacies. It’s not my confession that I will never preach on this subject. Indeed, I have had a lot of time pondering and reflecting on, ‘judging others’, and I have realized that many have misunderstood the scripture that says, do not judge others. It was spoken in a context where there were a group of people who considered that they were righteous and always judged others with morally superior attitude. They thought that they knew the laws and they were obedient.
Thus, they often point out others’ weaknesses and failures. However, they failed to realize their weaknesses and shortcomings they have. So, Jesus, knowing their flaws, sensed the need of teaching and rebuking them. In such situation, He rightly taught the people not to judge others, forgetting their weaknesses and shortcomings. But, taking this teaching of Jesus, many teach, correct and rebuke others intensely, forgetting that when they do that, they practice what they teach. For instance, when somebody fumble or stammer or stutter, or make mistake while speaking, some quickly laugh at him/her. At such point of time, some would rebuke and control them, surely with the notion that they should not judge others. Here, I don’t mean that we should never correct and control others at any time. But our motive of judging others is significant.
Making judgment is like a life-cycle. Actually, there is nobody on this earth who does not judge. But the nature of judgment and our motive when we make judgment(s) matters a lot, and hence, we have to consider meticulously. I don’t try to encourage anybody to judge others or say that judging is not wrong. When you control those who judge, you too judge them.
And when you judge who control those who judge others in the first place, it is still a judgment. The writer often becomes the third person in making judgment – judging those who stop or control those who made judgment(s) in the first place. If anyone sense that I do judge the second-person in making judgment(s), then, again, he/she can judge me. And I have learnt that I have been judged for my judgment, I can judge back, or somebody can also do it.
Making judgment goes on and on. Therefore, what I want to point out is that, there is no one who does not judge, and thus, the reason, purpose, motive and nature of judgment have to be looked upon. Due to arrogance, complacency and self-righteousness, those who control or stop others with the idea that we should not judge, could have more dire consequences.
I should say that they are more dangerous many a times because of their self-righteous character. Their ego can be a killing insect in their body. Now, as you read this, try to judge my views stated. If you do, I’ll be glad, as my argument that there is no one who does not judge will be validated. Then, by way of judging your judgment on my writing, I can prove that everybody judges. But, after reading this, please don’t develop the idea that you can judge others freely on everything, every time – you’ll be trapped. It will be a poison of your precious life.
