Judge Dredd

I have been feeling like I need to share my perspective on judgement. I guess it started a few months ago when some new people entered my group of friends. There were more than a few times that the concept of “judgement” and how a Christian should view it came up.

I started thinking about how I see it and I came to the realization that I think it is one of the few concepts that I have learned from my parents and elders, that I have gotten right the first time. I have many memories (and I am sure my parents can attest to) of times when I would come home from school almost in tears because my “friends” were picking on me or something similar. I would almost always go back to school the next day with much of what happened forgotten and forgiven. Some people would look at that and compare it to how a battered woman keeps going back to her husband or boyfriend, even when she knows what is going to happen. While I can see similarities, I don’t think it is the same. I think I was learning a great life lesson about forgiveness and judgement.

I think that forgiveness plays a huge role in my stance on judgement. I was reading a someone’s blog post a few days ago and she said something about “as a Christian, I have to judge people…” I can’t remember who it was now, I actually went back and tried to find the exact quote, but it’s gone now… Anyway, I remember the context made me think “wow, that doesn’t resound well within me.”

I don’t believe it is our place to judge. I believe that Christ wants us to live in grace and forgiveness towards others. Love the person unconditionally and hate the sin, but don’t hold it against them. If it is a sin that the person still struggles with, help them in confidence and don’t judge them in public. As long as they are working towards conquering sin, who are you to hold it against them. I hate to be cliche, but we are all sinners. Nobody has the right to judge you except God, so why would you think that you can judge someone else?

I have heard more stories of friendships being destroyed because someone can’t forgive someone else. Many times they become judgemental and bitter. If people could recognize that they have no right to judge someone, then maybe they would find it easier to forgive and move on… To hold a grudge is not healthy. One may think that it helps, but in reality, it just makes one bitter and it will start to leak out to all relationships with that person. Nobody likes to be around people like that.

Wow. I did not originally intended this be quite so forward and direct. I originally hoped to share my view and show that there are people that understand and won’t hold your past against you. While I don’t really have much of a past that I can be ashamed of (except for the pyromania!), I feel very lucky to have found a group of friends that will accept anyone unconditionally.

I could be wrong with my philosophy as it stands, but that’s what the comments are for! 🙂