The Lens of Judgement

“It is a great pity that every human being suffers so much because of the entirely erroneous principle that every other human being is attending strictly to their own affairs.”
Katharine Fullerton Gerould

“The final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” 
Anne Frank

“Every judgment in the world rests on a personal acquaintance with the subject judged.” 
Gilbert K. Chesterton

“Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery.” 
J. K. Rowling

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God” 
(1 John 4:7, ESV)

In our previous two blogs, Shedding the Colored Glass: Discovering Clarity and “We Are Perfect As We Are” a Myth of Human Creation, we discussed the importance of shedding biases and false assumptions, which act like “colored glass” distorting our perception of reality, to gain clarity and align our perspectives with God’s truth as revealed in Scripture. We also argued against the idea that “we are perfect as we are,” stating that according to the Bible, all humans are born with a sinful nature and in need of redemption through faith in Jesus Christ. We also emphasized the importance of pursuing holiness and spiritual maturity through reliance on God’s grace while recognizing our imperfections and weaknesses. Because of our flaws and limitations, we may find ourselves making snap judgments about people before we even realize it. We size folks up based on appearances, behaviors, that one thing they said that rubbed us the wrong way. Most of the time, we are operating off limited information and preconceived notions, viewing the world through a funhouse mirror that distorts reality.

Humanity’s Fractured Perspective
“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7b, ESV). We often let judgment reign supreme, our fallen nature, limited perspectives, and inherent biases causes us to view reality through these tinted lenses that distort things. We expect others to evaluate us based on our sincere intentions yet judge others based on distorted perspectives. The judgments we make of others come from just seeing the surface rather than understanding the deeper realities at play, oblivious to the hidden struggles, motives, and circumstances behind our own words or actions. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 7 about the speck and the log? “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3-5, ESV). It is such a convicting illustration of our glaring hypocrisy: Quick to judge others’ flaws and shortcomings while somehow justifying or remaining blind to our issues and flaws. Hypocrisy often rears its ugly head when we attempt to control the behavior of others while remaining oblivious to our own shortcomings. It is a subtle yet pervasive form of self-deception, where we hold others to standards that we ourselves fail to meet. We scrutinize their actions with a critical eye, quick to point out flaws and transgressions, yet we conveniently turn a blind eye to our own bent inclinations. This disconnect between our expectations of others and our own conduct stems from a misguided sense of moral superiority, fueled by a reluctance to engage in honest self-reflection. Ultimately, this hypocrisy not only undermines our credibility but also erodes the foundations of genuine accountability and personal growth. Much like the Pharisees Jesus clashed with, getting nitpicky about external behaviors while missing the spirit behind God’s truth (Matthew 23:23-24). Even well-meaning assessments can be inherently flawed. 1 Corinthians 13:9 says, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part.” Our perception is just fragmented glimpses of the reality that only God can see entirely.

The Folly of Surface-Level Scrutiny
An illustration of limited perception is the story of the woman caught in adultery, where Jesus, embodying truth and grace, encountered a situation where religious leaders demanded her stoning per Mosaic law. Yet, the Righteous One responded with remarkable insight, challenging them with the words: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7b, ESV). As each accuser confronted their moral frailty, their self-righteousness crumbled, and they all left. In a remarkable display of compassion, Jesus turned to the woman, saying, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:11b, ESV). In this exchange, Jesus dismantled judgment rooted solely in external factors while upholding God’s holy standard. Paul addressed this tendency, admonishing, “You have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things” (Romans 2:1, ESV). Discernment requires a humble willingness to see beyond the surface, acknowledge human frailty, and embrace empathy as we seek to understand others.

Divine Judgment: Rooted in Perfect Truth
God’s judgment, on the other hand, emanates from the perfect unity of truth and love. His sight pierces far beyond outward actions and penetrates the deepest places of the human heart with perfect understanding (Jeremiah 17:10). Yet this divine scrutiny flows from God’s passionate, relentless pursuit of our restoration and redemption and not condemnation. Proverbs 3:12 says, “For the Lord reproves him whom He loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” This heart is also echoed in Hebrews 12:6, “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives” (ESV). God’s assessments, even when they sting, are the loving discipline of a Father guiding His children back towards what is right. The goal is not punishment but molding and refining us into the image of His Son, Jesus. Paul challenged the Corinthian church, “If we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged” (1 Corinthians 11:31, ESV). We need Spirit-led self-assessment to confront our proclivities with unwavering honesty, measuring our motives and actions against the truth revealed in Scripture. When we refuse to allow our perceptions to dominate, or the patterns and values of this world to shape us, but submit to God’s renewal and transformation, we can discern and understand God’s will, recognizing what is good, pleasing, and perfect in His sight. (Romans 12:2).

Judgment Cloaked in Humility
Spirit-led self-judgment is not an exercise in self-loathing but a pathway towards wholeness. John said, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9, ESV). By acknowledging our desperate need for a Savior, we position ourselves to receive God’s overflowing grace and transformative touch. Practicing self-judgment births a spirit of humility, fertile soil where God’s righteousness takes root. Without this humility, judgment towards others becomes warped by pride and hypocrisy. Paul exhorted, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted” (Galatians 6:1, ESV). Just as we have received immeasurable mercy, we extend that same grace to fellow sojourners, recognizing our shared frailty. In the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus depicted a father’s unconditional love that welcomed his wayward child without condemnation (Luke 15:11-32). Though the son spurned his father’s authority through reckless living, the father’s response modeled lavish grace, spotlighting God’s heart towards repentant sinners.

Pursuing Truth and Grace in Tandem
To walk as Christ’s ambassadors, we must embody the seamless union of truth and grace He exemplified. With truth, Jesus fearlessly confronted religious hypocrisy while extending compassion to the destitute. He upheld God’s righteous standards yet offered those ensnared in sin a path toward freedom and wholeness. Paul likewise balanced conviction and mercy and though he sternly rebuked the gross sexual immorality in the Corinthian church, his purpose was restoration, not condemnation (1 Corinthians 5). Judgments devoid of grace breed religiosity, and grace without truth only perpetuates deception. Jesus embodied the perfect synthesis of full conviction yet overflowing with tender love. Like Christ, we must uphold God’s unchanging truth while clothing ourselves in the heart dispositions of humility, compassion, and restorative grace (Colossians 3:12-14). Only through this delicate equilibrium can judgment facilitate spiritual awakening rather than fostering shame or enabling sin’s deadly consequences. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in God’s sight (Psalm 19:14) as we navigate the complex realities of judgment.

Beholding the Lamb
Ultimately, righteous judgment finds its source and summit in the One who embodies perfect truth and boundless grace—Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. In His life, we behold judgment’s redemptive essence, as He embraced humanity’s condition not through condemnation but empathetic solidarity. In His death, we witness sin’s depravity judged, yet that judgment birthing the offering of mercy. As John beheld the enthroned Christ in his revelation, our vision of judgment must become inseparable from the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5). Before His presence, we divest ourselves of all pretense, posturing, and skewed appraisals, allowing His Spirit to judge our truest selves. Simultaneously, we find our identities not in self-condemnation but in the new creation He has fashioned (2 Corinthians 5:17), empowered to extend the same endless grace that redeemed us.

Dear reader, in our brokenness, we will stumble through misjudgments or try to absolve what God has rightly assessed. Yet take heart—we find our compass in the unshakable truth that God alone judges with perfect righteousness and unfathomable love (John 5:22). May we be a people who walk humbly in step with His Spirit, judging with wisdom, conviction, and the heart of the Father who relentlessly pursues His wandering children. And when we inevitably falter in this sacred calling, may we fix our unwavering gaze upon the Lamb and find our sight recalibrated to perceive as He perceives—perfectly clear. Cling to the One whose judgments flow from a heart of restorative love and discover the immeasurable grace that shatters every tinted lens, making all things new.