Judgmentalism

First of all I want to say “Thank You” for all who read and those who signed up to receive my blogs. For over four decades I have been humbled by those who have willingly listened to my thoughts on a wide variety of topics. I have been aware for the majority of that time that those who have listened do not sit as open vessels nodding in agreement with every word pronounced from the pastor/teacher. No. You and many others like you have listened with engaged minds, considering what is being said, and then agreeing or disagreeing with my observations. Many of you over have asked questions, thoughtful questions. Those questions have caused me to stretch and grow and to at least deepen my own thought processes if not change it. Again, thank you.

Our present circumstances have caused us to ask questions. Some questions have been attempts to understand a virus and how it can spread to be a pandemic. Some have focused on how our elected officers have led the response. Still others have tried to define the length of time it will take to respond to the virus and develop a medical cure and a universal vaccination. I believe that some of the most wonderful questions have revolved around how we relate to those in the circle of our closest community: family, friends, faith and how we can stay connected in meaningful ways. It has been fun seeing the many creative ways people have developed to strengthen “the ties that bind our hearts in one accord.”

One question came to me from my initial post that raises a question I would like to address. Here it is:

Most of us are glad to stay home, obey the rules and really enjoy socializing from a distance! Yet, we are quick to condemn those who ignore and recklessly endanger others. Who is more selfish? Whether church leader or misdemeanor misfit, does Christ ever allow for religious type judgment? - Shelly -

Two important questions. Let’s take the second one first.

One of the great condemnations of the church by our present pluralistic and secular society revolves around its judgmentalism. In essence judgmentalism is a negative attempt to say that in which I believe is right and if one disagrees me they are wrong. One term used to describe such core beliefs is ‘fundamentalism.’ Essentially a fundamentalist says here are the truths upon which I have based my life. I believe everyone has such fundamentals whether they can define them or not. Everyone is a fundamentalist.

Fundamentalism takes a further step. Fundamentalism takes one’s core beliefs and makes them into a universal ideology. Those who believe as I do are within my family. Those who do not or will not concur will be judged and (and if the judge had the power) condemned. There are fundamentalists on every side of the ideological divide.

That leap to judge is what Jesus and the scriptures condemn. Hear Jesus’ words:

Luke 6:37 (NRSV)

37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;

And,

John 8:15-18 (NRSV)

15 You judge by human standards; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. 18 I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf."15 You judge by human standards; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. 18 I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf."

And hear the words of the Apostle Paul

Romans 2:1-4 (NRSV)

1 Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. 2 You say, "We know that God's judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth." 3 Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

It seems to me the type of judgment and therein judgmentalism that the scriptures are condemning is when a person or group takes the place of God either consciously or subconsciously. An acquaintance of mine called these decision, “God Almighty decisions because God Almighty is the only one who has a right to make them.” Let God be the judge.

There is another type of judgment though that I believe relates better to what we are experiencing with Covid-19. It is judgment as it relates to discerning what is best. For instance, when my boys were in high school they were often invited to parties. In our community, high school parties were known for their experimentation with a wide variety of substances, relational and chemical. I would not let them go to a party if I didn’t first speak with the parent to make sure the parent(s) was going to be home and felt they had a handle on what was going on. I was not judging or condemning the individuals. I was simply attempting to discern what the best course of action would be and make my judgment accordingly.

Every human being makes these types of judgments every day. We draw upon our moral and ethical foundation in the process. As Christians, the Bible is a primary tool that helps outline these types of judgments. The Book promises blessings to those who follow those directions. Read Psalm 1 as an example.

This does lead us to the first question: Most of us are glad to stay home, obey the rules and really enjoy socializing from a distance! Yet, we are quick to condemn those who ignore and recklessly endanger others. Who is more selfish? Great acknowledgement that both decisions are “selfish,” but I would not say equally so because:

• One tends to appeal to the introvert the other to the extrovert.

• One is done out of information, the other out of arrogance and ignorance

• One is done with some degree of loving one’s neighbor, the other out of loving one’s self.

To me the guiding principle comes from the 2nd of the Great Commandments.

Matthew 22:34-40 (NRSV)

34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" 37 He said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

As I read this passage there can be a constructive purpose to selfishness. Note the command is to “love your neighbor.” We can’t and shouldn’t get away from that. But Christians have often loved their neighbor while damaging themselves. Christian masochism. There needs to be self-love amongst Christians. Jesus set the example by spending time alone (in isolation/ quarantine) in the presence of God so he could be renewed and directed. But he never lost focus that when he returned it was to love others, to help others, to heal others, to teach others, to lead others into the presence of God. As disciples of Jesus we should follow in his footsteps on both fronts.

These strange days of the Covid-19 pandemic have provided us with many opportunities to learn. May these thoughts provide something for you to think about. Thanks Shelley

.