Are you Judging or using your Judgment?

Hey Yall*

As we fight this fierce and cold weather in Ohio, I decided to touchdown on a topic that many talk about all the time. Often times, you hear Don't Judge Me! Even from Chris Brown making a song, to the cliche saying "Don't judge a book by its cover" to the bible even stating in Matthew 7:1 "Judge not lest ye not be judged," but can you say you are judging or just using judgment? Let's dissect this topic:

Scriptures:

Matthew 7:1-2 Judge not lest ye not be judged. This means do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others.The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.  If we continue on in the scriptures (Matthew 7:3-6) it also states And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? ⁴ How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. ⁶ “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

In this sense, I strongly believe that the bible is saying look in the mirror before you place judgment on someone else, but at the same time use your judgment wisely so that you are applying your Godly wisdom in  circumstances so that you are not fooled.

Dictionary.com states that Judgment is 1. an act or instance of judging 2. the ability to judge, make a decision or form an opinion objectively, authoritatively, and wisely, especially in matters affecting action; good sense; discretion: a man of sound judgment.

We like to use parts of the bible to work for us how we see fit, but at the same time do not follow through with the rest of the scriptures and how they should be applied in our lives. Judgment hinges on being able to discern and not condemn. By that I mean, you want to know how to judge between a good and bad situation or person but do not pronounce someone as being useless or unfit and bound to hell.  

All in all, using your judgment implies thinking through something before making a decision (judging). Being judgmental is a tendency to decide something is a certain way relatively quickly without necessarily taking in the whole story.

SO, just because you don't agree with what someone says, does or acts like and decide not to be around them doesn't mean you are judging, could just mean you are using your judgment and discerning between what is good and bad for you. Honesty can sometimes be misinterpreted as judging but let's be real if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck....you know the rest. There are reasons for the other cliches like birds of a feather flock together, call it like you see it, and don't judge a book by its cover. Just remember when you point the finger there are 3 other fingers pointing back at you. Interpretation is everything.

From my Original thoughts *Mwah*