Love Well in a Divided Culture: Navigate Challenging Times With Jesus' LoveSample

Love Well in a Divided Culture: Leave the Judgment up to the Judge

Making judgments is so easy. We do it every day. We open the refrigerator, smell the milk, and make a judgment call on whether or not a few days past expiration is okay. When we merge into traffic, choose something to read, and socialize, we’re making judgments. Each decision we make is a calculated or spontaneous judgment.

But what about judging others? Do we do that as well? Certainly! We judge the character of our co-workers, family, and acquaintances to see if they’re someone we’d like to spend more time with or can trust. We make assumptions—right or wrong—about the way people talk to us, dress, and behave. But just because we do it every day doesn’t make it right.

Sometimes judgments keep us safe—like crossing a busy street. However, in other situations, our judgment of others pulls us out of our position in Christ and into the judgment seat of God. God doesn’t need help judging others. He is very capable of doing that all on His own. Why? Because He is the only One worthy to judge. His divine and holy nature doesn’t allow Him to sin, making Him the only One able to judge.

In Matthew 7:3-5, Jesus warns us not to judge others.

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

The sin of others is not worse than our own sin, despite how heinous we may find it. Sin is sin. We all struggle with our own sin and the consequences that accompany sin, so why waste time pointing out the flaws in other people? Look at Saul before his conversion. He was so sure that he was doing the right thing for God. He was a Pharisee who intensely persecuted those following Jesus (known as the Way). He was adamant that Jesus was not the Messiah and that those following Him were breaking God’s laws. He took on the role of judge and determined the fate of those following Christ by persecuting them.

But what happened when Saul (also known as Paul) had a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ? His eyes and heart were open to the truth of the Messiah; he gave his heart and allegiance to Jesus, and he was no longer the Pharisee who hated Christ’s followers—he became a follower of Christ who gave bold testimony for Him, led many to a saving knowledge of Him, and penned several of the “letters” that comprise the New Testament of the Holy Bible (2 Corinthians 5:17).

There are probably plenty of people in our lives who, like Paul once did, believe they are fighting for the right cause. In some cases, as a believer, we understand their sense of justice goes directly against God’s Word. In these situations, it’s easy to want to pass judgment on them, but this is not our role—that’s God’s. We’d like their outcome to be just as wonderful as Paul’s encounter with Christ, resulting in radical life change.

Let’s strive to follow Jesus’ commands in Mark 12:30-31 as we demonstrate love and humility to others:

“And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

We are able to love well in a divided culture when we understand that we are not meant to judge. God loves the sinner as much as He loves us, so let’s let Him work out His plan in their lives as He is doing in ours! Interact with others with grace and mercy as we purposely submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s direction. Remember, not too long ago, we were walking the same path of destruction until Jesus transformed our lives. Rather than cast judgment, let’s go to our heavenly Father in prayer for those who are lost.

Heavenly Father, it is only through Your Son, Jesus Christ, that my life has been transformed. You sent Jesus to pay the penalty for my sin. Thank You for doing for me what I could never do on my own! Father, help me to stop casting judgment on others when I see them going against Your Word or really doing anything I deem as annoying or wrong. Remove the desire to judge others in my heart, and let me see them through Your eyes, offering grace and mercy. I pray for their hearts to be softened and submitted to Your and Your lordship over all. Change their hearts and draw them to Yourself. If I’m to be part of their journey, reveal what I should share with them, directing every word and action! I pray for full transformation in Your Son’s name. Amen.