Beautiful Judging

Can judging be beautiful? Yes, if it is done in a Christ-honoring way.

Sadly, it is often done in harmful, ugly, non God-honoring ways. That can, and should, change according to Jesus.

In Matthew 7:1-6 Jesus gives us ample advice to navigate the tricky waters of human relationships. He says in effect, "don't be hyper-critical, be just critical enough to not be led astray by those who don't know any better and those with evil motives who do know better." If you want to "straighten them out", be silent. If you want them to be restored, speak out gently in love. Look to yourself, you could fall as well (Gal. 6:1).

It would help our family life, church life, community life and all our other human relationships if we would learn to live together with people, in the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God. But for it to happen we must abandon or deeply rooted practice of condemning and blaming.

Jesus is saying that you should, and you can, become the kind of person who does not condemn or blame others. Make sure you guard your heart (for from it flow the issues of life) and your mouth (for the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart). As you do that the power of God's kingdom will flow through you, becoming more freely available to bless and guide others in God's ways.