The difference between judging and judgmentalism

Good News Reflection
Tuesday of the 22nd Week of Ordinary Time
August 31, 2010

Today's Readings:
1 Cor 2:10-16
Ps 145:8-14
Luke 4:31-37
http://www.usccb.org/nab/083110.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_08_31.mp3

The difference between judging and judgmentalism

What's the difference between scrutinizing everything (as in today's first reading) and being judgmental, which, as we know, Jesus firmly described as a sin. St. Paul says here that "the one who is spiritual can judge everything."

The difference is whether it's a what or a who. In observing a WHAT – a situation, an idea, a behavior – the Holy Spirit scrutinizes it, and if we're listening to God, we hear his opinion about it. But how do we know we're not listening to our own opinions, which are based on our limited perceptions and have been trained by the limited perspectives of others and the foolishness of the world?

Spiritual maturity and holy living are essential for good listening.

In observing a WHO, we sin when we draw conclusions, because now we're trying to usurp God's role as the Judge. We can correctly identify when people are sinning, but we can only make assumptions about why, how much they understand, and how much they can be held accountable. Assumptions can never be trusted.

Even when our assumptions are correct, we're not free to judge the sinner, because a judge is one who has the authority to impose sentence. Only God has that authority, for only God is free of sin. Remember what Jesus told the guys who wanted to stone the adulterous woman? Who can cast the first stone?

Today's responsorial psalm tells us how God serves as Judge (are we like this?): gracious and merciful, slow to anger, great in kindness, good to the sinner, etc. We're quick to condemn; God is not. We get frustrated when people don't get the punishment they deserve. And yet, how grateful we are that he does not condemn us so quickly! Ahhh, the sin of hypocrisy rears it's ugly face. Judgmentalism leads to one sin after another.

As Christians who are devoted to holy living, we have the mind of Christ, but let's remember what is uppermost in Christ's mind: "I did not come to the world to condemn it, but to save it." We become obstacles in his way when we condemn people for their sins. Redemption and justice only occur when we let Jesus decide how to make good come from every evil.

And by the way, you are a "who" too, so quit condemning yourself! Turn instead to God's mercy and let Jesus redeem you from whatever you've done wrong.

© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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