It’s easy to judge others

 

I reflected on two Scripture stories today that teach us how a “herd mentality” can lead us down a path of judgement and hate instead of our call to be compassionate and understanding.

In the first story (Daniel 13:1-62), two elders, whom people revered because of their wisdom, knew that their word would carry more weight than that of the righteous woman, Susanna.  They knew that their reputation would serve as a perfect cover for their accusation and lies.  Their lust and power could overcome their “conscience” with impunity.  Susanna recognized that she was in a “no win” situation.  She chose to trust in the Lord, to trust Him with her predicament.  I must admit that I would find it difficult to let go of my “rational” brain and to trust God in such a precarious situation.  I often find that I rely on my own problem-solving capabilities rather than to rely on the power of prayer.  I often forget how powerful it can be to share my problems with the Lord.  Susanna was saved because she believed that justice would prevail.

A couple of years ago, police officers in my town responded to a report of a possible baby abandoned in a dumpster.  Sure enough, a newborn baby boy was found alive inside the dumpster and medics transported the baby to an area hospital for treatment.  During their investigation, the police located the teenage mother near the scene who was also transported to a hospital for treatment.  The 15-year-old mother of the newborn was treated, then cited for felony child abuse/endangerment and released to her parents.

When the story hit the media, the reactions of a lot of people were lacking in charity at the least, and downright vengeful at the worst.  Some of the comments were quite graphic in the punishment the young mother should receive, even up to death!  However, there were several commentors who stated they knew the mother and couldn’t believe she would do what she had done. 

I am not defending this young woman for her actions.  Child abandonment is wrong and throwing away a living, breathing infant is especially egregious.  No person should ever have to endure such violations of their person or their dignity, especially a newborn baby.  Everyone needs to be treated with compassion and understanding.

At the same time, however, we must be willing to extend compassion and understanding to the new mother as well.  We must be willing to see her as maybe a deeply troubled person with mental illness or disordered passions.  We mustn’t forget that Jesus has called us to forgive every person, regardless of their sins!

John’s Gospel about the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) reminds us of how easy it is to judge others and how easy it is to condemn others for some action.  Individuals tend to attribute invariable dispositions or traits to people’s action while underestimating the impact of situational factors.  We’re quick to judge others.  To make us feel better, we tend to judge others as inferior to ourselves.  We see ourselves as “better than average.”  This better-than-average effect is helpful in keeping our self-esteem and self-concept intact.  However, it also assumes that others are worth somewhat less than us, that they may be acting wickedly while we would refrain from doing the same.  Jesus made explicit what we typically don’t see: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”  It’s so much easier to judge others than to be honest with ourselves.  This parable goes to the heart of what it means to be human.  We’re all sinners; we’re all imperfect and rather than look inwards and ask for forgiveness, we look outward and judge others.  I pray that I will not judge others, that I will work toward a just world, and that I will see the light, “even though I walk in the dark valley.”  I pray that I will trust the Lord, for He is at my side (Psalms 23:4).