The Rev. Darrell Brazell, pastor, New Hope Fellowship, 1449 Kasold Drive:

While I believe there are many reasons God calls us not to judge one another, here are my top three:

1) Because I too am broken. When I honestly look at my own mixed motives and actions, I realize there is nothing anyone has done that is inherently worse than what I am capable of doing. Many object saying “I would never . . .” However, much of their objection is because of a false value system of wrongdoing and a naiveté at our capabilities.

2) Because I never fully know another’s story. Working with addictions has taught me the mess from which we all come. When someone trying to get clean opens up about their story, my usual thought is not an incredulous, “Why do you do what you do?” but instead an empathetic, “I can’t believe you are still standing. No wonder you have needed your addiction.” This is just as true of someone who looks “put together” by external standards as it is someone who is an obvious mess. We never know the pain, trauma and struggle another human being has endured nor the reason their particular dysfunction manifests itself the way it does.

3) Because I cannot fully grasp anyone’s true glory. Underneath any visible, surface mess lies an individual created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27) C.S. Lewis said it well, “There are no ordinary people.” Every single person we encounter provides an opportunity to see a unique reflection of God that we can never see in anyone else. When I judge someone by focusing on their external dysfunctions, I miss any opportunity to see what is underneath. I miss my opportunity for God to reveal Himself more clearly through their reflection of Him.

Bottom line: “Don’t judge another because they sin differently than you do.”

— Send email to Darrell Brazell at darrell@newhopelawrence.com

The Rev. John McFarland, pastor, Christ Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church, 2312 Harvard Road:

I’m stuck, writing an essay on the inappropriateness of judging, even as I lob verbal grenades at “those judgmental guys.” Our government has three branches: executive, legislative… and judicial. What are competitive gymnastics and ice skating without judges? Summer fairs and Grandmother’s BLUE RIBBON pie? Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Folgers, or locally roasted? The endlessly debated Best Ballplayer Ever list? That foolish preseason poll ranking the Jayhawks No. 5.

Beyond the shallow, you fume when you see a child or pet shut up in a hot car; your sense of judgment makes you want to do something (short term and long). Two and two are four; an applicant who disagrees is judged unfit for NASA. Plagiarism, copying answers, falsifying experimental data, teachers abusing their positions … all are rightly judged unethical, evil. We’re judges; we judge.

Christians have bigger challenges, as one of the Bible’s books is called Judges. “God is Judge” and “will judge the earth.” But humans? Deuteronomy 16:18 ~ “Appoint judges [to] judge the people with righteous judgment.” Jesus charges His followers (John 7:24), ‘Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment’ for ‘God will judge the world in perfect righteousness.’ See, it’s more complicated than the one verse most folks (inaccurately) know: “Judge not!”

Since I must judge, God gives me a standard for the task, based on His perfection and clearly stated law. I don’t accept bribes in making judgments. I put on a figurative blindfold (like “Lady Justice”) so I’ll render fair sentence (no matter one’s wealth, race, familial ties). I mind my sphere of authority. I judge myself first by the standard I use when measuring others. And where I’m able, I strive to let mercy triumph over judgment, as God does for me through the grace purchased with Jesus’ life.

— Send email to John McFarland at JMMLawrence@aol.com