I’ve seen a lot of critical posts on Facebook recently, and a few of these have inspired me to write the following reflection:

Jesus said: “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.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye”.
Matthew 7:1-5.

Let me be clear from the outset; these verses do not say refrain from making right judgements. After all, we regularly make decisions about what is right or wrong, and we try to make wise choices as a result. What Jesus is highlighting here is the attitude of the human heart.

I once came across the words, ‘Don’t judge me because I sin differently to you’. This is an interesting thought that when understood correctly, supports what Jesus taught. We are all broken human beings in need of forgiveness, and the scripture makes it clear that we have all fallen short of the glory of God. However, what we must not do with Jesus’ words is use them to deflect attention from the habits, characteristics and flaws that require our own attention, repentance and desire to change.

There are those who, having a critical spirit, delight in finding fault with others, holding on to the bitterness and unforgiveness that lurks within them. These folk behave like it’s their divine right to point out the sins of others, because of the pain they have experienced is justification for the curt words and quick-fire judgements that they readily hand out.

It has also been said: “Hurt people, hurt people”. As human beings, we are all capable of great wickedness, and there are none so blind as those who, pointing out the speck of sawdust in a brothers eye, refuse to see the 4×2 plank of wood in their own.

We are all familiar with weakness and prone to fault and error, let us show mercy to others. Then we may be fit and able to teach and inspire them far better and from our example, and not just our words.

God bless you x.