Judgement Defined

Terms like "judgement", "intolerance", "bigotry", "hateful", and so forth get tossed around these days like beads at Mardi Gras.  I think it's time to discuss just one of those terms to "stop the insanity" shown by the uber-PC crowd who inappropriately throw the Judgement Card.  

So, from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:

Judgement (noun) - a formal utterance of an authoritative opinion; a formal decision given by a court; an obligation (as a debt) created by the decree of a court; a certificate evidencing such a decree; the final judging of humankind by God.

Now, a word from my sponsor:

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.  So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?  Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?     Romans 2:1-4

In summary:  Don't judge.  Before pointing out the splinter in your brother's eye, remove the plank from yours.  He who is without sin, feel free to cast the first stone.  And so on.  100% truth.

But let's handle this like a Q&A.  Here we go ...

Who gets to judge?

The Creator of our universe, the Creator of this world, the Creator of us.  a.k.a. God.  The Creator gave us laws just like we as parents (assuming you, the reader, are a parent) provide boundaries and instructions that we expect our children to follow.  If they do not, there are repercussions.  This is out of love, to protect, to sculpt them into the men or women they're intended to be.  In this light, judgement IS love, when it comes from a good parent.  

Is telling someone the truth really judgement?

Depends on how you convey it.   Depends on your intentions, too.  But providing someone information that is intended to help them - that they clearly don't know - is kindness, not judgement.  However, this information ... this truth ... MUST be delivered in love.  Softly.  Sometimes truth is very hard to hear, so we must be gentle and caring.  But NOT providing this information is not a good option.  It is simply irresponsible and uncaring.  To avoid delivery of that critical information out of awkwardness, fear of someone calling you names (e.g. "intolerant", "bigot") or otherwise ridiculing you, or fear of "hurting someone's feelings" is not loving.  In fact, it's cowardice and it's laziness.  It's the equivalent of watching someone walk toward a cliff, knowing they will fall over it, and saying, "Oh well - don't want to offend them.  They probably know there is a cliff there."    

If it feels like judgement (hate, bigotry, etc.) but intentions aren't to judge but to inform or help, is it still judgement?

I once had a good friend state, "If something feels hateful, it is hateful."  But, I think we can all agree that our emotions can not be trusted to guide our lives or to make decisions.  Not emotions alone, at least.  Using the parent-child analogy again, how do you think a child feels when her parent says "No!" to something the child REALLY wants to do?  Have you been to a grocery store, especially on the cereal aisle?  This is where beatings begin ;)  Should a parent back down when the child erupts in a full-out tantrum?  

Please say 'no'.  We're in reality, not in Dr. Spok land. 

Bottom line, we know better than our children.  What is good for them and what is horrible for them.  And God knows infinitely more than our tiny brains can fathom.  Sometimes we DO feel like God is picking on us.  I know I have at times.  But that is because - at moments like that - we think we know better than God.  Let's say that again and let it sink in ...

We think we know better than God.  

Pure silliness.  Just like the kid who packs up his legos, some candy, and a picture of Mom, and runs away, only to learn that he can't make it without his parents.  That they have not thought it all through.  That there are simply some things they don't understand, that we - the parents - do.  

The definition of 'judgement' has been altered over time and is sometimes seen as hateful when it's not.  Of course, sometimes it is hateful and a demonstration of full on bigotry.  If so, cut it out.  You're not the judge.  God is.

Why are we all here?  Really?  I believe what Jesus tells me:  Love God.  Love People.  (I'm paraphrasing of course from 1 John 4:9-11.)  Sometimes that love comes with salt, not sugar.  But that love must be given, despite the potential short-term repercussions.  The long term repercussions are EXPONENTIALLY worse.

Love to you all.