Article August 8, 1903 Issue

Upon Judging and Condemning

ANNE DODGE.

Jesus, that great Teacher whose inspired words are the rock upon which Christianity is built, said in his greatest discourse, which really covers all questions regarding salvation and proper living, "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" I could recount experiences of my own wherein I have been tempted to judge others, and when I have resisted, and turned the lens of Truth inward I have found the error was in myself, and that I was at fault; whereas the person whom I was tempted to condemn had a good reason for his course of conduct.

So often I have heard judgment passed on those perfectly innocent when the inner voice of Truth whispered to me, The real offender is the critic who meted out such a severe condemnation of those who had given offence, but had meant no wrong. It is the motive that God weighs, not the result. Duty may often lead to deeds of extreme self-sacrifice, and yet I have heard people harshly judged for performing what had been to them the difficult task imposed by a sense of duty which involved great self-denial, as duty often does. If we would but stop and think when tempted to judge another, and ask ourselves the question, Is not the beam in my own eye? If we would but be charitable, and give our brother the benefit of the doubt, how much more Christian and commendable our course would be!

Saint Paul says, "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things."

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