Let us Repent of…Casting Judgment

 

My brother sent me this photo. Aghast at the sight before me, I immediately responded asking, “What is that?!!” I feared for his safety. He wrote, “it’s my granddaughter’s pet puppy, Nugget.” At that point I was glad that we were not on a video call for I could feel my face transform from an initial expression of horror to horrified. “That’s a dog?” my fingers typed while my brain attempted to align what I saw as “puppy” with what I was seeing in the photograph.

My fingers continued, “That, is an ugly puppy.” My brother replied, “She is the most beautiful dog. You should see how she behaves when we come round. She’s always so happy to see us; she spins around, is very loving and loyal, full of fun. She makes us feel welcome every time we visit.”

That was not my impression. I thought that if I came face to face with that face I’d be running for my life. But, then I thought…isn’t this what we all too often do. We see a person, or a situation and we cast judgment. That is exactly what I was doing with this puppy. She didn’t fit my puppy-mold, so immediately I formed an impression just from sight; from her outward appearance.

I know you know this verse but no harm in a reminder. 1 Samuel 16:7 (CEV)

But the Lord told him, “Samuel, don't think Eliab is the one just because he's tall and handsome. He isn't the one I've chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts.”

I was judging according to what this love-giving puppy looked like. I saw her, did not know her but cast judgment upon her based only on her unique outward appearance.

We have no idea what’s in anybody’s heart. We simply assume certain things and jump onto the cast-judgment band wagon. And please don’t pretend that you don’t do the same thing. Yes you do. Some are always proclaiming, “Me, I don’t judge” yet when an unkempt person enters the church and sits on the pew you’re on, you swiftly skate across to the other side if not get up altogether to move to a different seat. Yes, you.

We are all casting judgment in one way or another and that is why throughout the Word, we come across verses like,

Matthew 7:1-5

Luke 6:37-42

John 7:24

John 8:1-8

James 4:11-12

Romans 2:1-3 and 14:1-13

And there are many more. Casting judgment was an issue then and it certainly is still an issue now.

John 8:6-8 (MSG) says,

They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.

The religious scholars and Pharisees were also casting judgment, not just on the woman but on Jesus. Jesus bent down and wrote in the dirt.

Jeremiah 17:13 tells us this,

Lord, you are the hope of Israel; all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water.

Jesus, as recorded in the Gospel accounts is the one who tells us that we are not to cast judgment; when we do, we are in fact, forsaking the Word. In casting judgment, we, like those religious leaders, renounce the Word. Jesus is the Word. (see John 1:1-14)

Oh beloved, it is easy for us to cast judgment, but our judgment is always a misjudgement. Who are we to presume that we can rightly judge another?  

“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbour?” – James 4:12 (NIV)

God is the only Judge; He is the just and righteous Judge.

Let us not cause Jesus to write in the dirt, let us repent of our propensity to cast judgment, and pray to see others through eyes of love, like Nugget, the puppy.

Amen †

 

 

Shelley Johnson “Let us Repent of…Casting Judgment” © March 18, 2025