Judging

#178of365 #FaithBites #FaithJourney Judging

Today’s faithbite is inspired by the retirement of one of the US Supreme Court Judges. I try not to get political through faithbites but judging is part of our past, present, and future. There are many worried about the next justice because of our current administration. Those on the left are in deep fear that this new justice will be very conservative and overturn much of the social progress of the last 40 years. Others are not too worried as this justice wasn’t liberal but conservative though he did serve as the swing vote on many cases. I too wonder how the next justice will impact our nation for the next 20-40 years or more.

This type of judging happens on a national scale. But what about the judging we do every day? We judge our family, friends, coworkers, and our own actions. We try to use logic to make decisions but our emotions play a large part as well. In many cases, we judge based on falsehoods and not fact. There are times when our truth isn’t truth and is proven as such later on. Still other times, we do use everything we know to judge a situation but still can make the wrong decision. We are not omnipotent nor do we truly know what the other person is feeling.

I make judgments every day. Many are harmless, but some do in the long run, truly affect others. We may not have a nationwide or global impact like a Supreme Court Justice, but we do have an impact.

Scripture on Judging

“‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” – Leviticus 19:15

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” – Matthew 7:1-2

“Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” – James 4:11-12

Reflection and Charge

We all judge every day and that won’t stop. But when we judge, we need to not pervert justice and treat everyone equally. Neither the rich nor the poor should be advantaged but all treated fairly. If we do not judge fairly, we can not be expected to be judged fairly. It goes back to the do onto others as you’d have done to you. We need to be fair, kind and act as we want others to act. We shouldn’t slander or speak against a brother or sister. This is really hard. Gossip can get us, it gets me. When we gossip we are judging others.

As we’ve talked about before, there is man’s law and God’s law. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge. God sees all, knows all, and judges all. As a people are fearful of what our mortal judges will do as we have seen when mankind through judges has gone amok. Their decisions have caused great pain and suffering through “the law”.

I do not know what the future brings or who the 9th Justice will be. Mine is not to predict but to believe in the Lord. Through that belief and action from prayer to improve our world the best I can. I am not judge, jury, no executioner. I am sent by God to help spread his word.

Do you follow the one true Lawgiver and Judge? Do you trust his will will prevail over the mortal law?

I will follow and trust in him with the help of God.