The prayer from the "Biblical virtues to pray for": "God, help us to love justice as You do and act justly in all we do" and the scriptures are Psalm 11:7 and Micah 6:8.
I have had a tough time with something to share with you here. I looked up justice in the dictionary, and it said "The quality of being just". So, I looked up just and it says "Fair, evenhanded, and impartial in acting or judging; adhering to high moral standards; upright; honest".
The words "impartial in judging" really stuck out for me. It is not right to judge anyone, I know that. And yet, I know it is also important to make right judgements.
I do not know why that person is acting the way they do, why he or she might be looking not as I want them to "look", or "act", or whatever. It is not for me to judge them. Along with this comes so many other sins: gossip, condemnation, worry, distrust, etc. When do I need to reach out to that one, and when do I draw back? How do I judge people? I need to seek God's wisdom so that I am slow to condemn and quick to show compassion. I need to pray for the gift of discernment. Trust God to protect me and lead me. And then I need to act in a just and fair way.
Micah 6:8 - "He has told you what HE wants, and this is all it is: to be fair and just and merciful and to walk humbly with your God".
Psalm 11:7 - "The Lord does what is right, and he loves justice, so honest people will see his face".
There's a wonderful story to illustrate this in the bible. The story of the woman caught in adultery - which in the days Jesus walked the earth was a crime and the woman was supposed to be stoned to death. They were trying to trick Jesus. But he said "anyone here who has never sinned can throw the first stone." And they began to leave one by one until they were all gone. Jesus asked the woman - "where are they? Has no one judged you guilty?" "no one, sir" she said. To which Jesus answered "I also don't judge you guilty. Go now, and sin no more". Maybe she expected Him to scold her . . . I don't know for sure. But I do know this: what she got, she never expected. She got a promise and a commission. The promise: "I also don't judge you guilty". The commission: "Go and sin no more". Jesus touched her life in a very powerful and compassionate way. He did not judge her guilty! Her life must have changed from that moment on.
And also when Jesus was dying on the cross - after being tortured and crucified, he said "forgive them Father, for they know not what they do".
Jesus, help me to show this wonderful justice and forgiveness to all the people you put in my life and in my path. Help me to act justly and walk humbly with you. I pray for that special gift of discernment. Lead me, Lord. Help me.
(Maybe we could all share our opinions or something we've learned about justice).
11 comments:
Judging is a tough one for me too. I always try to remember to "give the benefit of the doubt" to others when something "just isn't right". But, unforturnately, I fail more than I succeed. And it is worse with my own family members than it is with co-workers or strangers. HMMM... I think it is because I have more of a personal investment in the people I am related to than I have for others, so I care more. The more I care, the worse I am about judging what they are doing or saying or how they are living. I am no good, absolutely no good at this one. I guess the positive thing about failing in this area is that now I have identified something I can work on to improve my relationships with God and family, eh? Thank you Aunt Lonnie for posting a good lesson for me.
Another excellent teaching! I fall short in this "judging people" area, that's for sure. However, the Bible does warn us not to associate with the ungodly; so we do have to be somewhat judgemental, which I believe Lonnie points out in asking for the gift of discernment. And we are supposed to speak with our Christian brothers and sisters (in private) when we see them going astray, so we'd have to make a judgment call there. I guess the key might be to make those judgement calls in a loving and compassionate manner, and to keep such things between you and the other party - as Lonnie points out in what judgement can lead to (gossip - yuck!)
Forgiveness is key to being a Christian. To forgive, we must have first made some type of judgement???
Hello! :)
I noted Paul's comment above, and curiosity got the best of me. I clicked on his name and folowed it into his blog "Jesus and the Athiest." I'm telling you, ya gotta go into this man's blog and read his testimony. Pretty amazing.
I went there. Amazing! Such a wonderful miracle.
That's an amazing testimony. I wonder how he found this blog?
It's funny that you write about justice and judging and forgiveness here. We were talking about this very subject at Bible study on Monday night. Like most - or all - virtues, there are layers. Just when you think you figured it out, that layer is peeled away and it turns out there is more to this virtue than you thought. So you learn a little more, get better at it, and that layer is peeled away to reveal an even deeper meaning and expectation. I don't know if that makes sense. I guess I'm feeling like I'm between layers because after the discussion at Bible study, I am somewhat confused. Let me explain and maybe someone can help clarify.
In my mind "being impartial in acting or judging" is where the word "tolerance" comes from. I think we've gone a little crazy with tolerance in this country. To the point where I roll my eyes when I hear the word. I know I have no right to judge others, and yet, don't I have a right - even an obligation - to judge the action? How to keep those separated?
I know I'm covering a lot of ground here and my mind is going in too many directions. I love the Micah verse - The Lord requires 3 things : ACT justly, LOVE mercy, WALK humbly. Jesus gives us the perfect example of doing this with that illustration of the prostitute.
Thank you Mom, Michelle, and Sharon for the food for thought. I'll try to peel this layer away for clearer understanding: What is the balance in being Just?
When Jesus was on earth and He would forgive someone, He would usually say something to the order of "Go, and sin no more." In other words "you are forgiven. When you leave here, you need to stop the behavior that caused you to need forgiveness."
So, now just as then, if we forgive someone they need to really really work on correcting the behavior that caused them to need forgiveness. If they come back again and again with the same old behavior (same old sin), then make a judgment call and disassociate with that person. Pray for them always, but you don't need to associate with them lest you be tempted to sin with them, or so you don't get hurt over and over by that person. Being hurt repeatedly leads to anger, anger leads to bitterness. Anger and bitterness interfere with our relationship with God.
Does this make sense to anyone? Maybe Lonnie or Michelle or any one of you can tell me if this would clarify any questions? Debbie?
This is all good food for thought, and I am just reading this on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Lent representing the 40 days and nights Jesus was faced with temptation. Paul's testimony was refreshing. I especially liked the part where a total stranger handed him $1,500 dollars. Wow! That is an obedient Christian! Can you imagine his argument with God about giving that much money away to a total stranger? And who put the christian videos in horror video covers? Who through a dog out of the window? How did someone who was abused end up in the path of an abused dog at a crucial moment and who knew how much they needed each other? I do believe in praying for those that seem unlovable. They too are children of God and may have reasons for the way they act. They too can go through the transformation God has intended for each one of his children. Having said all of that, I do struggle with this subject on a day to day basis. Our first impressions of people are judgments, yet there is a fine line between discernment and judgmentalism. Thank you for the discussion.
Good sharing. Thanks everyone!
Linda and I watched a movie last night that speaks to this subject very well. The movie is "Walk in the Clouds". I'm sure you've probably all watched it. It is a "chick flick", probably, but oh so good. There is a lot of "judgment" going on in the movie. It is a wonderful love story, but the girl's father has very bad judgment of the guy his daughter fell in love with. Her grandfather and grandmother and her mother saw a good guy in him. You should rent the movie (or I have it if anyone wants to borrow it) and write here what you think. Good movie.
We need to judge the sin, not the sinner. We need to forgive the sinner, not the sin. God is a God of mercy. He does forgive -and even forget - our sinfulness. When we sin, we must confess our sin, repent of it (that is turn completely around and run from it, never to sin again) and come to Him. He always welcomes the repentant sinner back into His arms. Think of the prodigal son story. You'll find it in Luke 15:11-32. When one of His Own comes back and asks forgiveness, there is a party! A big celebration and I'm sure all the angels in heaven are rejoicing over that one who has returned. God sees each of us with the eyes of a Daddy - He's our Father. He sees all the defects, mistakes, blemishes. But He also sees our value. Each of His children is a treasure to Him, just as each of my children is a treasure to me. God offered His ONLY begotten son to everyone - even the sinner, even the one we don't have a good first impression of, even the one we have a hard time loving. This I must remember - if I find myself judging others - I must remember that God values them. I cannot accept the sin, but I must forgive the sinner. That does not mean I have to "hang out" with everyone I meet. And yes, a lot of the feelings I have are true discernment. Always ask God to help you discern. Always walk with Jesus. And listen to the promptings of your heart. Forgive. Don't judge. Pray for the sinner. Pray that they will find their way back to God and to salvation before it is too late.
I think a good example of judgment and mercy (the next virtue) is Dennis. We all know the story there. What he did is so awful. But we do forgive him, the sinner, but not the sin. We pray for him every day that he will be able to accept responsibility for his crimes and his behavior, and will confess his sin and ask for forgiveness. But - that does not mean we have to accept him back into our lives. We have no rights to vengeance or "pay backs", but at the same time, he has destroyed the trust of so many people. I lean on Psalm 28 and the book of Jude, (which came to me in prayer for him), when I am feeling pity for him. When I'm asking God if we are being too hard on him - I go there and re-read these scriptures and I know and trust God is speaking.
By the way, Sharon - as to your question of whether your comment helped at all? Yes, It did! I especially like how you said we don't need to be with people who hurt us over and over and how that can lead us into sin! Anger and Bitterness and affects our relationship with God! So true. Thanks for your wisdom - you, too, Mickey, and Debbie and Anonymous!
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