Many of us have no difficulty being judgmental. It’s as if it is ingrained in us, because we are so willing and ready to point out the flaws in another person before looking at ourselves. Criticism and crude comments might even become the norm if you let judgmental behavior seep into your life. But passages like the following in Titus give me hope:
“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy.”
For those of us as Christians, there’s a way of focusing that helps us refrain from judgement. Whenever I find myself judging another person for their behavior, whether it is justified or not, I try to remind myself of the truth of my own brokenness. It is usually a simple statement, such as remember what you were like before you changed, Paul. The reality is that we all have a past of brokenness that we took to live a better life. For perhaps you have a life that you are proud of now, that you look back in accomplishment in how you’ve changed. But things were not always that way. Think of this verse, if you need it. Remind yourself that you were at one time foolish, rejecting authority, living for your own pleasures, and mistreating other people.
Sometimes, it is difficult to think of yourself as something as descriptive as “enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.” It’s not a comfortable truth. But it is a truth nonetheless. We are all sinful, and we’ve all held ourselves captive to wrongdoing, whether we like to phrase it that way or not. And while it may be uncomfortable to think of yourself that way, it’s also what makes it beautiful, because it humbles us. When we are humbled, we see the world for what it really is. The more often you can think of yourself as sinful, the more that you will be able to connect with people.
And before you become devastated by your own brokenness, remember that you are loved. We have been saved, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of what God has done. Salvation is offered to all of us, and this humbling experience connects us to our creator. Through seeing the world as a place where we are all broken, and we all have been made by God, we will likely judge a little less. Not only that, but we’ll reduce our criticisms, gossips, and attacks, moving forward in humility and connection. Remember how you’ve changed and where you’ve been.
*Verse from Titus 3:3–5a
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