It seems in our world today we can easily get caught up in judging one another or judging ourselves by comparing ourselves to someone we admire. One author and speaker, Richard Rohr, refers to this type of thinking/perceiving as dualistic thinking. The basic idea is that we are constantly looking through the lens of this is bad and this is good, then we build our case why a certain thing or label is good. It also means that we feel tremendous shame if we have the quality that we perceive as bad. I am not saying that good and evil don't exist, just that we are addicted to our own filter that perceives good and evil. I did say "addicted", an addict is one that is in bondage to a substance or lifestyle. So many of us are addicted to judging good and evil, we live out this filter by sizing things up according to these "rose-colored" lenses. I am not saying that by finding freedom from judging, we cease to be spiritually discerning. In 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 God's Word says, "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one." Appraising refers to assessing some thing's value but notice this comes through the Holy Spirit and not us simply judging which comes out of the natural man (soulish man). I would also say that judging comes out of orphan thinking, because spiritual orphans always have to try to meet their own needs apart from God. Jesus challenges those listening (especially Pharisees) by saying, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1-2) Jesus is speaking to a group, the Pharisees, who who life had become dualistic thinking by judging people based on religious standards. Jesus was not simply challenging their world but turning it upside down, if they entered into what Jesus was offering would lose their whole foundation of living. The "law of judging" is not just dualistic thinking but a whole way of living that enacts a law where you will then be measured by the standard that you have measured to others. I don't believe this refers to God judging us because this is not the context, I believe that our own minds will judge us by the standard we have measured out to others. I don't believe that dualistic thinking is all bad but simply a step in our growth toward walking and living in love, which is in communion and union with Christ. This is also referred to in the circles I run in as Performance Based thinking, where I am measuring mine and others performance on some standard. Those who perform get the rewards (valued by others, accolades, esteem, etc..) and those who don't are punished (rejected, looked down upon, or dishonored). The problem with this approach to life is that it goes against "the law of love" and devalues some people subtly adding to their past rejections, hurts, and estrangement. Jesus modeled a life of loving and honoring people, seeking people who would humble themselves, be transparent, and acknowledge their need for a Savior. Those who had elevated themselves (Pharisees, Sadducees, and Political elite) Jesus made a point to challenge their pride and dualistic thinking. Yet even those who had position, like the Roman Centurion, who approached Jesus humbly received what they were looking for. This dualistic, judgemental form of thinking has created many denominations because we agree over right doctrine and divide over differences. Where is love and honor in this process, it is pushed aside as a way of living and judgement is what is on center stage. I believe this understanding can explain almost every church that divides. I believe Jesus is inviting us into a better way, to live out of the freedom He lived out of by walking in love and experiencing our oneness with Him.
Free from Judging,
Bret
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