“Who Are You to Judge?”
A number of years ago, I was home on a cold, winter night and decided that it would be nice to build a fire in the fireplace and enjoy a cozy evening of reading. I opened the flu, piled some logs on the grate, turned the knob on my gas starter, and lit a flame. The first sounds of crackling wood filled the air and I was ready for the logs to fully catch fire when I realized I had a problem. A downdraft from the chimney was pushing smoke into my house. I turned off the gas, but it was too late. A steady stream of gray mist continued to pour into my family room.
Panicking, I decided it was time to play amateur fireman. I hustled to the kitchen a few feet away and grabbed my small fire extinguisher. Never having used one before, I quickly scanned the directions. Rushing back to the fireplace, I pulled the pin, got down on one knee, set my aim on the logs, and squeezed the trigger.
There was just one problem.
I was holding the extinguisher backwards so instead of dousing the flames, I doused myself in a cloud of white powder.
My only regret from that evening (besides not checking for a downdraft) was that there wasn’t anyone else around to record this incident. I could have made a fortune on America’s Funniest Home Videos.
But as I reflect on this mishap, I also see it as a metaphor.
So often when we see a problem in the world, we want to jump in and address it. And so we aim our energies (and our emails) at the flames and pull the trigger, but often we end up covered in a cloud of mess ourselves.
Let me get to the point.
When calling out judgment, too often we are judgmental.
When calling on others to love, too often we are unloving.
I’ve noticed this because I see it in myself.
As Jesus warned, it’s really difficult to call out the speck in someone else’s eye when you have a plank in your own (Matthew 7:1-5). A reminder to myself (and maybe you): If I’m spending a lot of time and energy condemning a speck in someone else’s eye, it’s a good indicator that there’s a plank needing attention in my own.
So, how do we keep from being covered in the very mess we want to extinguish? It may be in fully embracing the truth in these words from the Apostle Paul:
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…” -Romans 8:1
Most of us read those words and feel a sense of gratitude for the grace we’ve received through Jesus. It is stunning to realize that because of what Jesus accomplished through his life, death, and resurrection; we can have complete assurance that when we stand before the Father, we will not be condemned.
And yet, even though God does not condemn, somehow we still feel justified in condemning our brothers and sisters? These days, lots of condemnations are being thrown around in the form of labels like “woke” or “bigoted” or “racist” or “liberal.”
It makes me wonder, if the God of the universe does not condemn, just who do we think we are? Just who do I think I am?
As James, the brother of Jesus reminds us:
“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” -James 4:12
Now, I’m not saying we shouldn’t talk about our convictions. I’m not saying that we don’t stand up for truth and justice. I’m just saying it’s important for us to remember that ultimately you don’t answer to me and I don’t answer to you.
As the late Dallas Willard said:
“We are always to respect other people as spiritual beings who are responsible before God alone for the course they choose to take of their own free will.” -Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy
When I stand before God, I will give an account of my life to him, not yours. And I really don’t want to be covered in a cloud of my own misguided mess in that moment, even if I don’t have to fear condemnation.
So, keep me, Lord, from judging.
Empower me, Lord, to love.
This is the way of your upside-down Kingdom.
This is the way of Jesus.
Therefore, I bring myself before you and release others to you and marvel once again that none of us stands condemned.
