Do Not Judge Yet

We’ve all heard it. We’ve probably all said it, and it always means something bad. We say, “Do not judge,” when we don’t want to feel badly about our behavior. We don’t want to judge others, also because it might make them feel bad about themselves. So, why do we do it?

Judgement is always bad. We only feel bad about it because it is rarely used to praise us. Judgment is neutral. Years ago a pious Orthodox Christian judge taught me that. “I don’t judge. I determine the truth,” he said. Judgment is a statement of truth. So why not judge?

In today’s lesson from Saint Paul, we are taught not to judge “before the time” because the Lord will take care of judgement. In other words, good or bad, there is still time. We haven’t sealed our fate quite yet. Here’s what Saint Paul says.

Brethren, do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every man will receive his commendation from God. I have applied all this to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brethren, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift? Already you are filled! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!

1^st Corinthians 4.5-8

The thing about judgment is that we will receive what we are due from God, good or bad. If we are ‘good today’ that doesn’t mean, we won’t fall and turn away from God. Similarly, if we are ‘bad today’ that doesn’t mean we won’t repent and return to God. There’s still time.

Saint Paul also warns us today not be “puffed up” against each other. We don’t’ see everything like God. We don’t see all the good and we don’t see all the bad. Only God knows the true depth of our heart. Only God can be the neutral judge. There’s still time to tune our hearts.

I often talk about the Orthodox way of life as a way of ‘tuning our hearts to God’ so we hear, see and experience life as He does. It’s like an old AM radio station. We get too far from God and all we hear is static. (If you’re too young to get this one, google it!)

Here’s my point for today. Only time will tell if we are ‘good or bad’ in the eyes of God. Just because we are riding high on prayer and fasting won’t mean anything if we fall tomorrow and sink into the abyss. That doesn’t mean all the news is bad news.

Having time also means we have time to get out of the pit and climb the mountain to heaven. God is there waiting to lift us up. He is waiting to welcome us home. He is waiting for us to decide that yesterday wasn’t the way He wanted, and today we have another chance.

So, don’t judge quite yet, but don’t put it off either. Look into the mirror and ask yourself, “What would God have to say about my life?” Chances are pretty good that we have work to do to ‘be’ better. There’s still time.