Judge not...

[sowinskija]

Today’s reading:

36 'Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate.

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 there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap; because the standard you use will be the standard used for you.’

how does this apply to political arguments, viewpoints, ect? Can’t i judge that Obamacare is wrong? Or that a high minimum wage is harmful? Or that someone is ignorant? If not, i am really guilty… Please help

 

[OxygenMan]

Today’s reading:

how does this apply to political arguments, viewpoints, ect? Can’t i judge that Obamacare is wrong? Or that a high minimum wage is harmful? Or that someone is ignorant? If not, i am really guilty… Please help

Well, you can most certainly judge an idea or an action as wrong or even morally evil. Evil actions can be punished, even. Christ Himself showed us that.
But we are not to pass judgement on others in heavy-handed ways; we are not to judge in the ways that only God Himself has the authority to do. Therefore, even if someone thinks evil things or does evil things, it does not mean we should kill them or cast them out forever. If they repent and change their ways, we should welcome them back with open arms.
Likewise, while they are doing evil, we should do our best to show them the right way. We should attempt to bring them to God’s love before they do truly irreparable harm.

 

[George_Stegmeir]

Today’s reading:

how does this apply to political arguments, viewpoints, ect? Can’t i judge that Obamacare is wrong? Or that a high minimum wage is harmful? Or that someone is ignorant? If not, i am really guilty… Please help

This has nothing to do with politics or social behavior. This has to do with hyprocracy, one judging that his fellow man is sinning without any proof of it, or when one is guilty of the same thing.
Remember when Christ chastized the men who were about to stone an adultress to death? “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”. That is what this is about.

 

[frjohnmaryt]

Oxygen you are right in saying ‘we are not to pass judgement on others’. It is not ours to judge others from their evil deeds. It is God Himself it is not man. It is our responsibility to do our best to correct them, show them and remind them the way to repent. The hard side of it is when one continue evil deeds and not ready to repent. This is the most difficult part of it. Love is awaiting for the repentant sinner as portrayed in the story of the ‘prodigal son’. This is the happy ending we hope for, for that the evil sinner – to be embraced in the loving arm of God.
God bless.

 

[spockrates]

Well, you can most certainly judge an idea or an action as wrong or even morally evil. Evil actions can be punished, even. Christ Himself showed us that.
But we are not to pass judgement on others in heavy-handed ways; we are not to judge in the ways that only God Himself has the authority to do. Therefore, even if someone thinks evil things or does evil things, it does not mean we should kill them or cast them out forever. If they repent and change their ways, we should welcome them back with open arms.
Likewise, while they are doing evil, we should do our best to show them the right way. We should attempt to bring them to God’s love before they do truly irreparable harm.

Hey, OM. Are you saying Christ meant this?

“Do not judge [too harshly] or you will be judged.”

 

[spockrates]

This has nothing to do with politics or social behavior. This has to do with hyprocracy, one judging that his fellow man is sinning without any proof of it, or when one is guilty of the same thing.
Remember when Christ chastized the men who were about to stone an adultress to death? “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”. That is what this is about.

Hi, George. Are you thinking Christ meant this?

“Do not judge [hypocritically] or you will be judged.”

 

[spockrates]

Oxygen you are right in saying ‘we are not to pass judgement on others’. It is not ours to judge others from their evil deeds. It is God Himself it is not man. It is our responsibility to do our best to correct them, show them and remind them the way to repent. The hard side of it is when one continue evil deeds and not ready to repent. This is the most difficult part of it. Love is awaiting for the repentant sinner as portrayed in the story of the ‘prodigal son’. This is the happy ending we hope for, for that the evil sinner – to be embraced in the loving arm of God.
God bless.

FJM:

Are you saying that correcting someone and telling that one she needs to repent is not a kind of judging? Or are you thinking the judging of which Jesus speaks is of a different kind than this?

 

[COPLAND_3]

Jesus doesnt mean that we are not to be descerning, nor does He not mean that we are not to be cautious of the hooks and crooks of society. If I am approached by someone who looks like an axe murderer or looks like they just got out of prison, I’m sorry folks I will probably be more cautious around them rather than someone who looks like Mother Teresa. That’s just common sense.

But have you ever seen when someone makes a mistake and everyone around them is ready to throw them under the bus, as if they themselves walk on water. I believe that is the type of judging Jesus had in mind. One thing I CANNOT stand is when people shun others who don’t fit in or mess up some way. I also think the wrong kind of judging is when someone looks down on someone or others as if they themselves think they are better, like a snob.

 

[Fidelis]

Sister Ann Shields spoke about this topic quite a bit on her radio show today

Food For the Journey–February 26

 

[Parisian]

I was confused on this reading as well. I always get confused on “not to judge others” but if you try to teach someone the gospel (to someone lets say has homosexual sex) then is that judging? Obviously I had to discern if they were sinning or not in the first place… so that to me could possibly be considered judging.