We remove the log in your eye


Our core Bible-based spiritual principle is "Do not judge or you will be judged..." Mt 7:1-5

Jesus taught that we are not to judge or we will be judged.  This is not a "rule".  Rather, it is like the law of gravity.  If you jump off a building, you will fall to the ground.  If you judge a person, you will be judged in return.  But you are free to go ahead anyway, if you so choose.  Unfortunately, our ability to make good, wise decisions is severely impaired when we are feeling judgmental towards another person or even towards ourselves.

So why do we judge others, and even ourselves? We do so because it gives us a sense of control, as a way of "pressuring" others or ourselves to change.  To stop judging is to let go of control.  This is why one needs a strong spiritual faith to live in the present.  We are trusting that God is in control, so we don't need to be so controlling ourselves.

A paradox occurs with non-judgment.  People actually change faster and more willingly when we accept them as they are now.  The same is true for ourselves.  We change ourselves more rapidly and easily when we accept ourselves as we are.  People feel the impact of being accepted.  Jesus demonstrated this many times in the Bible, including with the five times-divorced woman at the well, as well as with the adulteress woman about to be stoned to death (John 8:1-11).  Each person laid down their stone freely and willingly, after Jesus acknowledged their behaviour without judging them.

Becoming accepting and non-judgmental is an action process, not an academic one.   No one becomes non-judgmental through intellectual study.  Rather, you become non-judgmental through noticing your real world experiences and intentionally deciding that judging others isn't working, and is indeed causing yourself a great deal of pain and unhappiness, let alone those you care about.

Here are ten Bible-based teachings on being non-judgmental...

Matthew 7:1-2
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to  you."

Matthew 7:5
 "First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
[The plank is our "judgments".  Without judging, we can see "what's important now" to be helpful to others.  That's because we are coming from a place of love and compassion, not fear and control.]

John 8:15-16 (New American Bible)
"You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone.  And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me."

John 12:47
"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him.  For I did not come to judge the world but to save it."

Luke 6:37
"Do not judge and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn and you will not be condemned.  Forgive and you will be forgiven."

Romans 2:1
"You, therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the others, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things."

Romans 14:10
"You, then, why do you judge your brother?  Or why do you look down on your brother?  For we will all stand before God's judgment seat."

Romans 14: 13
"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.  Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way."

James 2:1-4
My brothers, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.  For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Sit here, please," while you say to the poor one, "Stand there," or "Sit at my feet," have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs?

James 4:12
"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?"

Source:  New International Version (NIV), copyright by International Bible Society unless otherwise noted.

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