Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Judged

"Judge Not, That Ye Be Not Judged”

Because of recent family events I have again been reminded of the trials and pain associated with judging and criticizing others.

We do not know what is going on in another persons life, we do not understand why they make the choices that they do. Because we do not have a full knowledge of what is in their heart, or the circumstances of their life we cannot make judgement of what they do.

I would like to quote a talk by N. Eldon Tanner from the Ensign April 1972

"It seems common practice for people to talk about their friends and neighbors and to criticize their seeming peculiarities and weaknesses. In fact, it is so general that one would think that gossiping about and judging others was the thing to do. How often have we heard of young men who were criticized, judged, and ridiculed because of their peculiarities and yet who eventually became leaders in their different fields of endeavor. "

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.

“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

“Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

“Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” (Matt. 7:1–5.)

The reason, therefore, that we cannot judge is obvious. We cannot see what is in the heart. We do not know motives, although we impute motives to every action we see. They may be pure while we think they are improper.

It is not possible to judge another fairly unless you know his desires, his faith, and his goals. Because of a different environment, unequal opportunity, and many other things, people are not in the same position. One may start at the top and the other at the bottom, and they may meet as they are going in opposite directions. Someone has said that it is not where you are but the direction in which you are going that counts; not how close you are to failure or success but which way you are headed. How can we, with all our weaknesses and frailties, dare to arrogate to ourselves the position of a judge? At best, man can judge only what he sees; he cannot judge the heart or the intention, or begin to judge the potential of his neighbor.

When we try to judge people, which we should not do, we have a great tendency to look for and take pride in finding weaknesses and faults, such as vanity, dishonesty, immorality, and intrigue. As a result, we see only the worst side of those being judged.

Let us examine our own lives and actions, bring ourselves in tune with righteous principles, and never attack or spread misinformation about others.

Gossip is the worst form of judging. The tongue is the most dangerous, destructive, and deadly weapon available to man. A vicious tongue can ruin the reputation and even the future of the one attacked. Insidious attacks against one’s reputation, loathsome innuendoes, half-lies about an individual are as deadly as those insect parasites that kill the heart and life of a mighty oak. They are so stealthy and cowardly that one cannot guard against them. As someone has said, “It is easier to dodge an elephant than a microbe.”

“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” Then, after stooping and writing in the sand, he looked up and said, “… where are those thine accusers?” (John 8:7, 10.)

You may wonder why I have posted this on my blog, I think we all can learn a little more about how painful and destructive gossip can be and how destructive judging others is.

I have watched many family relationships be destroyed due to incorrect judgements of another person. I have seen family members ridicule and condemn another family member without any idea that the reason the person was acting the way they were was because of a private war they were suffering inside.

You never know what trials another person is privately suffering, they may not act the way you think they should act or do the things you think they should do but no matter what your perception is it is not up to you to judge or gossip.

I wish I could say that I have never been guilty of gossip or judgement of others because I have, but I have also been the victim of vicious judgement and gossip and I am painfully aware of it's damaging ramifications.

Think before you judge!