Let’s Leave All the Judging to God

One of the disconcerting things about our current cultural moment is that people seem to have gotten very good at reading other people’s minds and determining their motivations.

Among other things, this is a driving force behind cancel culture, I think.

It’s also completely void of assuming the best and giving the benefit of the doubt—in other words, anything related to a 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love.

Combine all that with an increasing tendency toward outrage and offendability—about anything and everything—and it’s no wonder our planet often seems ready to blow.

It’s easy to feel helpless about this. But surely there’s something we can do to change directions—or at least begin to try. Isn’t there?

Honestly, I don’t think it’s up to “us” or “we” or “they.” It’s an individual thing, one that each person has to decide for him or herself.

“Be the change you want to see in the world” sounds cliché, but perhaps it’s also true.

No matter the issue, it’s easy to hop on bandwagons. To be judge and jury, pundit and guru, expert and consultant.

Even if you tend to keep your opinions to yourself on social media or in person, it’s easy to go there in your mind and heart. Easy, but not especially helpful. Not edifying or encouraging. To ourselves or anyone else.

As I ponder my own struggles in this area, it comforts me to remember that there’s only one Person who can do any of this perfectly and all at once. I suppose it goes without saying, but it’s not me, it’s not you, it’s not any of us.

The Bible describes God’s omniscience—His all-knowingness—in so many ways. His “lamp sheds light on a person’s life, searching the innermost parts.” He is “the one who examines minds and hearts.” He alone knows “the hearts of all the sons of men.” He “searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts.” (Proverbs 20:27; Revelation 2:23; 1 Kings 8:39; 1 Chronicles 28:9)

Unlike any human, God sees our hearts, weighs our hearts and knows the secrets of our hearts. He understands our thoughts, He is aware of our every movement, He knows what we are going to say before we say it. (1 Samuel 16:7; Jeremiah 20:12; Proverbs 21:2; Psalm 44:21; Psalm 139:1-4)

If I truly believe all this, it has the potential to scare me to death. If I was having a face-to-face conversation with God Himself, what would He have to say about the state of my thoughts and heart over the 24 hours? Or even the last five minutes?

I don’t know the answer to that, but I have a feeling I would leave God’s presence feeling both loved and chastened. Certainly, the encounter would make me think twice before I speak or share or comment.

Someday, God will judge the righteous along with the unrighteous. (Ecclesiastes 3:17) We’ll all be asked to give an account for every idle or careless word we speak. (Matthew 12:36)

So rather than simply bemoaning all the evil in the world and wringing our hands over how bad it’s getting, perhaps we can ask God to look inside us, reveal what we should be doing—and doing differently—and empower us to do it.

If we don’t know how to begin, scripture gives us the words:

First, “Examine me, O Lord, and try me; test my mind and my heart.” (Psalm 26:2)

Then, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.

Photo by Esther Ware.