“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others, we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
All humans at varying times throughout their lives suffer from “the log eye process.” The log eye process means we judge over another with the authority that only God possesses. The whole idea of humanity playing God is at the root of all human problems. There are countless ways “the log eye process” is carried out. One political party judges another (they have 24/7/365 news outlets for these judges). We go above and beyond to judge race, sex, gender, power, money, prestige, glory, etc. Everywhere we look, “the log eye process” is alive and well.
Listen to the words of Jesus (Matthew 7:1-6 – CEB)
7 “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 You’ll receive the same judgment you give. Whatever you deal out will be dealt out to you. 3 Why do you see the splinter that’s in your brother’s or sister’s eye but don’t notice the log in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother or sister, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ when there’s a log in your eye? 5 You deceive yourself! First, take the log out of your eye, and then you’ll see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s or sister’s eye. 6 Don’t give holy things to dogs, and don’t throw your pearls in front of pigs. They will stomp on the pearls, then turn around and attack you.
The message is clear; we are not in a position to judge over anyone. Judgment is left to God and God alone. The second part of this message is justice, righteousness, and shalom. If we are fortunate enough to get the log out of our eye, we must then in turn help get the splinter, plank, log, telephone pole, etc., out of our neighbor’s eye. There is no room for judgment, only love in that exchange. The recipe for a better life and a better world is to leave the judgment to God while we practice living a life of love and service.
Lord, thank You for the grace you have bestowed on us all. You could quickly eliminate humanity for our pathetic demonstration of love. Despite our unwillingness to love and serve on another, You still choose to love us and encourage us to repent from our wicked and judgmental ways. Please give us the courage and power to leave all judgment to You and focus our efforts on loving and serving all creation, starting with each other. In Your Spirit and Name, we pray these things. May Your will not ours always materialize, now and forever. Amen.
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