Published by When we, as humans, fail to comply with the one universal faith principal and commandment, against which we all are to be measured, according to our own standards and norms, which we wish to impose on others: When we mete out judgement to them.
When we seek to pre-judge and criticize others for their shortcomings, whilst we ourselves are guilty of the same sins.
Remove first the beam from your own eye; so that you may see well enough to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”
“He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.”
“With the same measure you mete out to others; in like manner you will be measured”
Do we have the right to judge? To judge others, I mean. I have always held the view that judgement on others, whomever it might be, are by nature an evil which we can very well do without. But it appears that it is however at times difficult to abstain from this offence. We are by nature creatures of opinion, and therefore tempted at times to pass judgement on others.
But do we have the right to do so.
I have seldom been in any lengthy discussion or debate; whether political, spiritual, or of race or of any other debatable discussion, without experiencing some form of judgement being meted out. Do we regard ‘judgement’ only as a term of expression to be used negatively when pointing out the shortfalls of others? Or do we consider it as a loose term of reference, which we can also use in its disguised form; referred to as “constructive criticism.”
I regard any form of criticism as judgmental. Although somehow we tend at most times to agree that ‘constructive criticism,’ is to help the recipient thereof to improve on his or her previous performance. Although in many instances it is hurtful to the one to whom it is meted out, and therefore most people do not take kindly to it.
Strangely enough, there are those individuals who are equipped with the type of ‘armor’ that enable them to take any criticism with the proverbial ‘pinch of salt.’ Whether this is good, or bad, is debatable. There are however times when I feel that my sensitive nature could do well with this trait. To be enhanced with the characteristic that is strong enough to withstand the onslaught of any criticism is by any standard a mean feat within itself.
It is after all a strong Christian belief and indeed one of the inclusive faith principals of Christianity (and also of some other faiths), not to judge anyone. In the Bible it is written: (Romans 2: vers.1-4) “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the others, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things.”
It further elaborates: “Now we know that God’s judgement against those that do such things is based on truth. So when you a mere man, pass judgement on others and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgement?”
It stands to reason then, that we do not have the right to judge others or one another. For the very reason that we all fall victim to the same human faltering, due to our inherent weaknesses and human frailties. We can therefore concede that whenever we attempt to pass judgement or criticize others, we are judging or criticizing ourselves. I, as I believe so many others do, have to confess, that to remain consistent in our endeavors not to pass judgement on others, will remain a battle to which we will have to commit ourselves skillfully, if we want to overcome this evil.
