Sharpening Your Saw: Body, Mind, Spirit & Soul
My last blog post was, “Can constructive criticism be destructive jealously?” On Linked In, Andrea D. Jackson, MSM, commented that two don’t mix “Just like knowing the difference between judgment and correction.”
Immediately I thought of the phrase “judge not, that ye, not lye be judge,” which I’ve heard countless times before truly understanding its origin. The appears in Matthew 7:1-2 and Luke 6:37. Jesus rebukes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, members of an ancient Jewish sect. Pharisees are known as a scholarly class dedicated to teaching written and oral law. They support all things religious. Ceremonial purity at the top of the list. They are self-righteous. And they challenge authority, in this case, Jesus’ authority. (Modern-day Pharisees are the same; they have no respect for authority—in the natural or spiritual world.)
Jesus was breaking all the laws healing on the Sabbath, mingling with tax collectors, and talking with people of other races and cultures. He also had respect for women. Jesus loved the saints and the sinners. He rooted for the underdog and the oppressed. (Can you tell I’m more than a fan of Jesus?)
So, you can see why the Pharisees became judgmental, judging Christ for his every decision, his every move. Just because it didn’t fit their way.
When I’m teaching students about writing, I tell them you have to know the rules before you can break the rules. I feel that way about many things in life. But when breaking the rule, it’s for a purpose. In this case, Jesus is showing compassion and kindness to all humans.
What’s shocking: the Pharisees criticized Jesus yet had no concept of second chances, forgiveness, or goodwill.
Isn’t that always how it works. Judgmental people believe they are the smartest, brightest person in the room, and no one knows more than them. Don’t you know someone who fits the bill?
They are critics of everything except their own lives. They talk more about what they hate than what they love. Pharisees. They have opinions about other peoples, and sometimes have not even been in the presence of that person. They see faults instead of strengths. Pharisees. They cannot take correction. They blame others. They try to correct you, even when they have no idea how the task is done.
One day I was dining with family and friends. One person at the table questioned everything that she put in her mouth. Where was it purchased? Why wasn’t it spicery? She then compared the pound cake to her mother’s pound cake.
Another person simply asked her how she would have prepared the dish.
“I don’t cook,” she said.
When everyone at the table stared at her, she said, “Don’t judge me.”
Here’s the difference between crossing the line from judgment to correction. Correction is to help someone with an error. Correction encourages a better outcome. When I offer student comments, I’m not judging what they believe I’m correcting or teaching them better ways to communicate with a better choice of words, clear and logical thinking.
If we correct someone, we should double-check our motives and our self with these points in mind. I call it my self-talk before opening my mouth.
- Don’t compare people to each other.
- Don’t compare ourselves to others.
- Know that if we judge them, they will judge us even more harshly.
- Ask ourselves, have we not made the same or similar mistake.
Let’s not forget those sayings and idioms that rebuke judgmental criticism, such as: “People who live in glass houses should not throw stones,” “the pot calling the kettle black,” or “the ax forgets what the tree members.
If you’re about to step over the line from correction to judgmental criticism, remember, “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own” (Matthew 7:1-3a MSG).
Therefore, seek answers in the scriptures; God’s Word is for correcting errors, for re-setting the direction of our life, training us for right living, and teaching us faith (2 Timothy 3:16 paraphrase).
When Jesus chastened the Pharisees, he was judging their moral standing. Nevertheless, he practiced what he preached.
Until next time,
Praying God’s best life for you,
