Are you an actor? Do you expect people to act a certain way, but not yourself? Do you get upset at someone doing something, but do the very same thing yourself? Do you know the proper term for that is hypocrite, someone who acts one way in one setting, but differently in another?
We are inundated with judgementalism in today’s culture. Everywhere we turn, someone is looking down their nose at someone else. It has gone far beyond friendly competition or rivalries and proceeded directly into courtrooms or the court of public opinion.
We also see this happening in our churches. It may be as simple as one church conducting an event for years and another church decides it would be a good idea for them to conduct one. The first church is now upset and spreads opinions the second church doesn’t conduct it as well as they do, rather than rejoicing that more people are being drawn toward God.
It may be as dastardly as a grudge from decades ago continuing to be held between churches. At some point, there was an offense, or something was deemed unfair between the two. Rather than showing God’s grace to one another, being willing to forgive, there is dissention.
Of course, it occurs person to person. One person judges another for having a glass of wine. The other judges another for cussing like a sailor. That one judges another for their sexual preferences. They judge someone for being old fashioned. The list goes on and on.
As Paul tells the Roman church, when we do this, we are condemning ourselves. We, who are passing judgment, do the very same things. By this it is meant that we are sinners ourselves. Not one of us is perfect. Not one of us can earn our way into eternal glory. Each and every one of us need God’s grace. He calls us to love as He loves and show grace as He shows grace.
I pray we all give up our judgmentalism. I pray we show grace to others as God shows us grace. I pray each one of us will love all people as God loves us and them. Stop judging. Show grace. Love your neighbor. Love all people. Do not condemn yourself. Remember we all sin. We all need grace.
Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
Marty Pressey 