“I’m not judging her, but…”
I was totally judging her. Isn’t it easy to fall into the trap of playing God?
We believe we know how other people should live their lives - who they should vote for, how they should dress, and who they should date. But when people don’t do what we think they should do; we can easily resist the command to not judge them.
Luke 6:37 says, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (NIV)”
Friend, I get it. Following this command can feel daunting, especially when we watch people make not-so-great decisions. We feel angry and disappointed, wondering when this person or that group of people will ever “get it together.” This headspace is exactly where Satan wants us. If he can place a wedge between believers, giving us a false sense of authority while distracting our hearts from truth, he will.
Judgment is a tempting act of pride. Grace is an obedient act of humility.
Thankfully, our role isn’t to play God. Our role is to love God, then hand over the people we don’t understand or agree with to Him. There’s a difference between disagreeing with someone and condemning someone. Even Jesus disagreed with people! But only He has the authority to judge them, not us.
When I face those sticky moments in life where I’m tempted to pass judgment on someone, I have to remember that we are all sinners who fall short. I mess up, you mess up, we all mess up. And, it’s never too late to ask God for help when we need guidance on how to show grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Through faith and reliance on God, these undeserved gifts know no end!
Do you find yourself wanting to play God when it comes to judging a person or a particular group of people?
Will you hand them over to God today, acknowledging your sin as well?