Will You Judge Me?

Have you already?

I want to share a story with you. It’s not my story but one of my former coworker’s who I will call ‘Amy’. It took place several years ago when she and her daughter who I will call ‘Wendy’ were at a shopping mall. It was a ‘mother-daughter’ day and they were minding their own business when they were confronted by a stranger.

To give you a little background of Amy, she is a very sweet and kind Christian lady. Her daughter was a very sweet and friendly teenager who liked to wear black clothes and many rings. Not exactly into gothic fashion, but close enough I guess for this stranger to object.

Picture this: On a nice Saturday afternoon Amy and Wendy were walking through the mall enjoying their shopping day together when out of the blue a random stranger comes up to Wendy and with a sad expression on her face and without provocation says

“Jesus loves you.”

They were surprised and a bit confused as to whom the woman was addressing. Upon realization of what this woman was saying and talking about, Wendy looks up at the woman smiling and without missing a beat, says

“Yes, He does and He forgives you.”

After that, they walked away to enjoy the remainder of their day.

I have to admit that I am not sure I would have been as forgiving or as clever as she was in that situation. When I was told the story, it made me angry (if I am being honest).
I was thinking about all of the things I would have liked to say to that stranger “You can’t judge me!” “Only God can judge me!” and various other less constructive statements.

But I realized that I was judging that woman the same way she was judging Wendy. I was judging her as a self-righteous person who had nothing better to do than to go around judging others.

About Judgement

As in Matthew 7:3
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

I still remember that lesson and the story even today. Not because of the woman, but because of the way that Wendy responded. She took that potentially aggressive and negative situation and put a stop to it with wisdom and patience.

The Company I Keep

Many years later, I had a friend who kind of out of nowhere said that he was surprised that I was his friend and that I often spent time with him. As I recall it, it was during one of the times that I had been at his house playing games. Out of nowhere he asked me why I hung out with him “After all, aren’t you a Christian?” he said.

I wasn’t sure what he meant by this statement and as he clarified he was referencing his lifestyle and choices. My friend was an artist and he liked more gothic themes such as vampires, zombies, and things like that.
He also had no positive experiences or interest in religion of any kind. In the past he had people try to aggressively convince him to come to church and listen to them preach God’s message.

I simply told him that if I were to judge him as an evil person and if I avoided all seemingly evil people then there would be no people to share God’s message with.
Also, his interests and activities weren’t who he was. He was a very kind and smart person that was fun to hang around with.
I explained that I spend time with him because I like his company and it gives me opportunities to share God’s messages with him.

His Sheep and The Shepherd

God doesn’t want us to become one of the wolves, but to lead His sheep to the Shepherd.
If I were to beat him down with The Bible and to judge him as a sinner, then there would be almost no chance of bringing him to the Light. That is what I wanted for him. He understands that and he has been more open about talking about Jesus and Faith.

From being a sinner to becoming His child is as simple as making a choice and changing.
When you see someone, who dresses a certain way or looks a certain way, be careful with your judgment.

Because what was once before, may not be anymore.

Luke 6
Judging Others
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.