Judgmental People Make Me Sad

Definitely something for me to always think about… and remember on a daily basis. Great post!
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Good word, my man! Isn't a GR8 feeling to be forgiven! o/

Great post man.
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I wonder if the judgmental part of us is part of being made in the image of God, twisted & gone wrong by our sinful nature. There are a number of things that seem to be innate in us & show up at a young age, such as being judgmental or the sense of fairness. I can't help but think that this is a fragment left in us from our creator, but it has been perverted by our separation from God.

I try, when i'm feeling judgmental, to separate the acts of the person from the person themselves. There are things that people do which are clearly wrong & i see them & they bother me. But i also try to remember that i have sinfulness in my life that is the same but maybe not as visible & that Jesus died for my sin as much as for theirs. But i think i still have the belief that i'm somewhat "above that," if i'm honest with myself.

One area that i struggle with in judgment is that our pastor tends to make judgmental statements about other churches. It bothers me a lot. I think it makes the people in our church feel much better about themselves & our beliefs, but i can't help but wonder what God thinks about it. I've discussed it with this pastor. He asked me if i was judging him. I told him i'd struggled & prayed about it.

I think i'm being judgmental of something i don't believe belongs in God's people, but not of the man himself. I like him & appreciate a number of things about him. But again, if i'm really honest, i don't know that i respect him much.

Being judgmental is a slippery slope, but it seems to be a very deep part of humanity.
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Excellent post, bro! I've actually been thinking along these lines the past few days, about all the ways we consider ourselves to be better than others…. and there is a LIST! Working on that post now. You have inspired and challenged me.
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I am thankful that the judgement of God is met with Grace
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I loved this post and needed to read it – really love this line: "Every time I choose to judge, I rob myself of experiencing God’s grace to its fullest."
We have been visiting Cross Point for about a month and I have only read a little on your blog about your story – keep wanting to make time to read more but your story is one of the reasons I am excited about the Bellevue campus. I haven't met you yet and only briefly met your wife at the last Cultivate Her but your vulernabilty and open struggle with brokenness makes you both people I want to get to know. ANd even though you don't know me I instantly know you know "broken" and that offers safety in being known authentically. (Think there were too many 'knows" in that sentence.) I want someone leading in a church to know "broken" so they can understand my "broken" – even if it looks completely different. To me your story adds to your credibility rather than making me question/judge you. It is the story of redemption that we all need to hear more – not the story of how someone has led some fairytale life of no problems. Thank you!

i am so very thankful for my father – the exact way that God has made him… and some day, i'll have courage to explore this more on my blog. My dad and i talk a lot about this… that because he has been so judged, and harshly treated, it has given both of us the ability to look at the world more compassionately. for that, i am grateful God created the exact family He wanted me to become a part of here on earth
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Love this: "The antidote to judgmentalism is gratitude. Being thankful and undone and overwhelmed by our desperate need for grace eliminates judgmentalism in our life."

After experiencing God's grace like I never believed I'd have to (which by the way, is the attitude that often leads to falling, imho) … I felt gratitude like I'd never felt before.

My view of others has changed drastically from that experience. I find it much harder to judge quickly and much easier to look for opportunities for restoration and redeptmption.

I've often told people that if I could have a "do-over", I'd only want to do it over to prevent hurting the people I hurt, but I wouldn't want a do-over on the change it's caused in me.

I'm thankful for a wife and a Father who love me unconditionally … and for true friends who don't just love me in spite of my faults, but love me including my faults.

I guess sometimes we are all 'those people.' no matter where we come from or the grace that has been extended to us………

great post. thanks.
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my husband and I are heads of a family that is constantly judged. For being a multi-racial family,my husband is a very large black man, I am a short little white woman. for one son having long hair, for us both having tattoos, for expressing ourselves and allowing our children to express themselves (respectfully). I could go on and on. We always say" judge not lest ye be judged" Today I was reminded why that is such a great thinking as I was checking out in the store with the whole family in tow, and they we're all laughing and joking with each other. The cashier smiled and said we all talk about you guys when you come in,you all make us smile and laugh and you have such great kids. In fact my husband and I were sitting by you all at a restaurant a while back and we're surprised to see you all pray out loud together in public before eating. I asked her if she thought that we were a strange bunch. She said yes, at first glance we did seem a bit odd- but just a few seconds of watching us interact as a family her opinions were changed. Judge not lest ye be judged.

The issue of judging is always a struggle I think. I am SO thankful for grace and I try really hard to share that with others. Grace is personal to me and it has overwhelmed my heart.
I agree with Kori. Your brokeness and willing to be so authentic is one of the main reasons I am so excited about CP Bellevue. The world is so broken. We need a picture of life we can relate to, not a photo shop imagine that is not obtainable. Thanks to both of you for being so real and honest. It is refreshing and an incredible witness to see in full view the grace and mercy we are to potray.
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I've always found the antidote to judgment is suffering. I used to judge a good friend of mine for her sex life, the way she got around. I deployed right now, away from my wife and daughter for 6 months. My judgment is gone. Though I remain faithful to my wife in body and soul, in my heart I long to be held, to be touched, to make love to someone, or even just to share a furtive moment sexual intimacy. I talk to my wife on the phone and she feels the same way. Suddenly, when I, like my friend do not have a best friend to go home to everyday, I find in my heart I wish I could a lot more like her.

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This is a great post Justin. A friend once told me that he often liked to convict people and allow God to love them, but then he realized that he had it back words. He reversed his way of thinking and tries to remember that our job is to love and the Holy Spirit's job is to convict. I think he's on to something.

Thanks!

Wow Brooke! Thanks for sharing that. It is a great reminder to all of us of our predisposition to judge others.

Thank you for sharing. Is there a book out there- You recommend?