Millpond Ink Musing
About Judging Others
Yesterday, I had a discussion with a fine fellow. He told me he believed the Christian teachings – not that he mentioned the name of Jesus specifically – but I wasn’t about to quibble. I asked what church he attended. He said he didn’t go to church… he had had a bad experience when he had gone before. A pastor did something or other that revealed his hypocrisy. He then spoke about his experience in Houston when Hurricane Harvey hit and a well-known, prosperous preacher in the area didn’t raise a finger to help those who suffered loss. He did commend a Texas mattress king who opened his store to take in the homeless, costing him a considerable sum.
Okay, so yes, sadly that happens… all too frequently those so-called ‘men of the cloth’ are found in their nakedness to be sinners too – worse yet, deceivers – those who enter a pastorate intending to upgrade from cotton to silk. Still, what about you? Not all churches… pastors… are…
He cut me off. He reminded me I shouldn’t judge. His wife especially hated people who judged others. The Bible said we shouldn’t judge one another. Jesus said so.
I did ask him – as lovingly as I could – if he hadn’t just judged his former pastor and that ‘unnamed Houston,’ glittering agent of silk suits and fortune spun on the wheels of countless poor? (Of course, I didn’t exactly describe that Houston pastor to him that way at the time.) Nevertheless, I praise God that the man’s response affirmed the Holy Spirit’s presence. How do I know? He smiled, and nodded his head, acknowledging the point.
As for judging one another? We should never judge another as if we are the final arbiter of a man’s salvation. However… this morning I read James 5:19-20, “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”
