If you’re ever tempted to judge another person and speak harshly of them, here are some sobering words from the Bible to consider:
“…you have no excuse, O man, whoever you are, when you judge another; for in passing judgment upon him you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things” (Romans 2:1, RSV).
Jesus Christ was aware of other people’s shortcomings, but he didn’t stand as a self-righteous judge over them. He loved them in such a way that they reformed and became better people. This is an ideal for us to strive for!
Shower your neighbor with love rather than self-righteous condemnation.
Shower your family members with understanding and compassion, rather than targeting them with resentment and anger.
Shower your government leaders with goodwill and blessing that inspires them to be better leaders, rather than tearing down everything they do.
Here’s a translation of the above Bible verse from The Message:
“Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors.”
When we think evil of others, it reveals evil within ourselves. The best way to improve the world, is to start with improving our own state of thought. As we collectively love more and judge less, everyone will be better off.
Brilliant way to look at it.
Thanks Evan….Love, love , love and love again!
Thank you Evan much to ponder and act upon in those Bible Verses.
How helpful Evan. Thank U. Awake and mulling over THINGS, so timely for getting back to sleep with this healing message, how did u know, lol. Divine LOVE meeting every human need, as usual.
“He doth protest too much!” All true, judging others, especially orally, points fingers elsewhere. Yet, as a very judgmental person I know Evan’s words ring true. For whatever reasons I am this way, I fight it constantly, and I recommend the same, It is SO much better to love.
Thank you, Evan.
Impressive honesty, thank you! For many it goes undetected, not admitted, and therefore not healed. God did not make you judgemental, it does not belong to you. It is just error trying to cling to your thought. But you already know that and are well on your way to dropping it completely.
When you point your finger at another, there are three fingers pointed back at you. I think there are articles on this ….
I like what you’ve said. Especially “It is SO much better to love” I’m going to remember that today – Thank you James
From Science and Health
The Sixth Tenet
” And we solemnly promise to watch and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus, to do unto others as we would have them do unto us, and to be merciful, just and pure”
Hope I got that right!
“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness:
I shall be satisfied when I awake, with thy likeness.”
I heard, read?, “ I shall be satisfied with thy likeness,
when I awake “
“Thy likeness,” is to see the face of God, as
mentioned in the article mentioned last week.
“ Seeking God’s presence everywhere “
I have been thinking, to see the face of God
in others, we have to be “the face of God
expressed.”
Which brings us back to, no “person-ality”
The Bible mentions “the face of God” 71 times.
When I was growing up, those little See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil monkeys sitting side by side figurines were popular. It was a reminder to keep watch over what thoughts to take in and to be aware of what we share with others, so as not to judge them. We all, being God’s children are precious in our Father/Mother’s eyes and treating each other with respect and Love and in positive ways, without judging is certainly needed today where identity seems to be the “in” thing. One’s gender, color, nationality has nothing to do with who we really are in the eyes of our Creator.
You might find this article helpful which quotes Mrs. Eddy’s thoughts about those three monkeys. https://journal.christianscience.com/issues/1982/3/100-3/the-three-unwise-monkeys
Dear Melissa,
Do you or anyone have a link to the article for those who do not digitally subscribe? Thank you in advance.
Wonderful & needed, as always, Evan
Love to all.
Spiritview is my first stop each day.
The Message is like a wake-up call in the way it is written.
Love, love, love! ! !
Thank you Evan. I had just read this and was about to study the Lesson Sermon when my husband said we had to do this, this and that immediately! Your post arrested my first negative reaction ….so that blessed everyone plus the jobs were completed super fast. A small but for me significant Immediate change in my thinking. Another step along my Spiritual learning curve.
I used know an Arabic, Indian man, turbaned and tall, educated and professional. We had many discussions.
One example was when commenting on others he said with authority “Remember Dave, when you point your finger at someone else, three are pointing back at you……
Never forgot that example or the wisdom of others in different forms of faith and religion.
Yesterday I helped one of my new neighbors who had difficulty changing out a switch for his kitchen light. He came over in humility and asked for some assistance.
Of course the problem and a couple others were resolved. He asked me what the charge was. I told him that being, Sunday the bill would be triple time.
The payment had already been made as he allowed me to practice the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew, 5. I left the retiree some literature one, the lesson on Love and a ‘Sentinel.
He told me on my leaving he loved me, two or three times.
I left with this thought. “The good you do gives you the only power attainable”. And felt I had been blessed by this man and his wife.
Thank you for this opportunity to express the life’s experiences that lead us to the harmony of what life truly is, when we know the Truth in our daily lives.
Your example is outstanding of what being a neighbor is. Won’t you come be my next door neighbor? Some simple problems can be corrected, with thinking what to do, then doing it with LOVE.
I see spreading the LOVE around by being a good neighbor the starting point. Thank you for sharing the specifics of your experience.
Beautiful, thank you Evan and all! This reminds me of a favorite bumper sticker, “BARK LESS, WAG MORE.” And it’s a good reminder to not be judging myself too harshly, either.
Lovely day, everyone!
Very good. We need constant reminders of this. I I’ve been working to make “A Rule for Motives and Acts” a part of my daily study:
“Neither animosity nor mere personal attachment should impel the motives or acts of the members of The Mother Church. In Science, divine Love alone governs man; and a Christian Scientist reflects the sweet amenities of Love, in rebuking sin, in true brotherliness, charitableness, and forgiveness. The members of this church should daily watch and pray to be delivered from all evil, from prophesying, judging, condemning, counseling, influencing or being influenced erroneously.”
I have especially been focusing on the part that says “…Reflects the sweet amenities of Love in rebuking sin, In true brotherliness, charitableness, and forgiveness.”
What this says to me, is we don’t need to rebuke and judge our neighbors or ourselves, we need to have no sympathy or tolerance with the sin (the mistake in thought or action) but completely separate that from the child of God.
So grateful to be learning more all the time!
This is so very important. I was taught that every time one points a finger at another (as in criticizing, judging, condemning, etc) THREE fingers are pointing back!
It’s awfully hard not to be critical, particularly of political personalities. Mrs Eddy taught us to pray for the office, and try to do as Evan as advised in this writing today. Whew! That’s a challenge!
“God able is To raise up seed-in thought and deed-To faithful His”. From the poem by Mary Baker Eddy, “Satisfied”.
Love.
Thank you for this important message! I also appreciate Trista’s comment that we rebuke the sin not the person. We see that sinful behavior – unkind, thoughtless, etc., is never part of God or His idea man, but a lie about the perfect man that God created and governs. I am working to see our political leaders as reflecting integrity, brotherly kindness, intelligence and humility- the one Mind God.
Such a needed reminder, Evan! And thanks to everyone for your very helpful comments. A CS lecturer said decades ago, “Criticism is the inability to see the Christ in another.” I believe since we’re not able to do all the activities we used to participate in, error wants us to fill that gap w criticism of others. So we need to be especially alert and focus on the good in those we hv criticized in the past. We can bless them in their spiritual journey, bless them in divine guidance and knowledge, bless them in supporting a righteous govt. As we bless others, we too are blessed. We are so blessed by this blog!!
I love this Cathryn. When we are tempted to criticize, we are often fully focused on what the other person is doing “wrong.”
You have highlighted something often overlooked: the lack or wrong is not in the other person but is our own failure to see God in them, which is what is really there. Of course we don’t need to put judgement on ourselves either, as Carolyne has said. Just see through it and move higher to recognize God in ourself and in the other person. Thank you.
Brilliant mental surgery here! Thank you. Let me/us strive to constantly shower each other with love rather than criticism and to take responsibility for our own corrections. THANK YOU, EVAN!
“In Christian Science, man can do no harm, for scientific thoughts are true thoughts, passing from God to man.” [SH103:32] from this week’ amazing Bible Lesson sums up so well today’s truly inspired blog .. ‘God bless us, every one’ [A Christmas Carol]
What a Wonderful Family of Supportive And Loving Thinkers! How pleased our Leader would be!
“The time for thinkers has come.”
-Preface, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy
I really needed this today!
So grateful for SpiritView and for the loving family of comment-posters and insight-sharers.
Oh dear Evan! If everyone read your message today and practiced it, “what a wonderful world this would be.” Thank you…another nail hit squarely on the head!
Thank you Evan and all those that shared their thoughts today. “Love, Love alone is Life”…..
This is just what I needed – thanks so much Evan.
Also thanks Melissa for the link to that artidle. Here is one thought I got from it: God is always the one, all-knowing Mind, and man is God’s reflection. His faculties are incorporeal. His being is in Spirit, not matter. His life is in divine Life. His intelligence is found in Mind, divine consciousness. Very helpful!
I think I once heard or read MBE “when you cease to criticize, condemn or judge you begin to progress.”
Anyone know that?
Many thanks Evan and all!❤️
Annie brought up the difficulty in criticizing political personalities. I did not vote for our present president but have been most disturbed at the excessive criticism and fun made of him all the time. I am doing my best to stick to policy rather than personality issues. I’m open to any helpful suggestions!
Hi Marge, as I understand you want an answer.
My answer is based on our understanding of Christian Science. Would suggestion to stick to the truth that there is only one govener, namely God, and He is also the only lawgiver. And He governs the whole world absolutely harmonious.
Dear Uta,
I love what you wrote. (Just read it after I typed below’s comment). This applies to all countries, indeed, with God governing the whole world harmoniously. Great point!
Thank you Uta– A true Reminder that is helpful!]
Dear Marge,
I agree that policy is the utmost importance of where we want our leaders to take this country, rather than judging by personality. Do we want religious freedom, for example, or gov run health care and other mandates taking away freedoms that we are so fortunate as a country to have and worship the way we do now?
I agree, the critical viewpoints tearing down everything the president does, no matter what it is and putting a negative spin on everything is derogatory of so much good that Could be accomplished if we all thought in spiritually, loving, working together terms for the betterment of all.
When personality is portrayed in always a negative view, it is good to have and open mind and really listen directly to what is being said and not how it is said or interpreted and sometimes misinterpreted by pundits to turn it into a negative. Unfortunately a lot of positive things that are done are never mentioned on certain venues, whereas other venues do share them.
If we think of others positively, we will see the positive qualities in ways we may not have before, seeing the Christ Truth expressed in everyone. I
know this is kind of long, but hope it helps.
Thank you very much, Evan for your so important reminder, not to judge or criticise! I am really working on it, however I am aware that I must be more alert to resist this wrong doing.
Betsy is so right with what she read what Mrs. Eddy wrote and the result is very logical!
Am so grateful for the blessing SpiritView of dear Evan! ♡
Thank you Carol, rather I think your explanation is what Marge wanted, and it is very good !♡
Here’s a link to the article Melissa shared that everyone should be able to access.
https://journal.christianscience.com/shared/view/1h0topoym1s?s
Thank you for the link, Brian, and Melissa, an interesting and deep article.
I was a young child at the time and it was just an innocent reminder as a child to not take in thoughts that would harm and not to speak unkindly to anyone.
In the post today was a letter from my kind Member of Parliament expressing disappointment with the response he had from the Government over a question I had raised with him. My own reaction was more negative, as I was surprised he had received a reply at all! as well as not being surprised at its being unsatisfactory. I was about to answer the letter, thanking him for his efforts and expressing my views, but turned to the computer first – and read this from Evan. You can imagine how chastised and corrected I feel!
My letter to the MP will not be the one I was going to write, and will include a print of this ‘View’. Many many thanks, Evan
I didn’t ‘get it’ at the mention of 3 fingers pointing at me if I pointed a finger at someone, so I tried pointing my finger. Sure enough, 3 of my fingers were pointing at me. Remember, MBE does not say to be silent in the face of sin, but rebuke it with brotherly love etc. You rebuke the sin, not the sinner.
So important to emphasize not judging political leaders harshly. Does no good anyway, maybe vents a little frustration, but ultimately the best method is to bless them, send love and know that they are guided by spiritual sense, which God has given to all of us, just by virtue of being alive.
Certainly it’s not easy to do when we see and hear of things that are said and done by certain leaders, but no one said this spiritual way of life is always easy, but so rewarding! Blessings to all!
Thank you all , Evan and all those who commented, today.
I just read Across That Bridge by John Lewis who has in his life verified in his life, everything everyone said today, from the Civil Rights Movement forward. Faith can change social injustices in everyday life. Truth is powerful and overcomes social lies and ills. Nothing can withstand to power of love. Faith, truth and love build an stolid defense that can overcome all evil, lies, and hate. Nothing can withstand them. In them, the new is built on the rock.
I am so humbly grateful Christian Science and the blessings it bestows on mankind.