Editorial January 17, 1925 Issue

Scientific Judgment

ALBERT F. GILMORE

PERHAPS no teaching of Christ Jesus is more often disobeyed than the injunction, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Judgment of others has come to be an almost universal custom among mortals; yet such opinions are rarely righteous, because based upon erroneous premises and made in other than the spirit of brotherly love. Not only do men thus take upon themselves the responsibility of judging others, but they judge unjustly in so far as their opinions are based upon insufficient knowledge of the person or circumstances judged. Furthermore, such opinions often assume the character of criticism, so that judgment becomes a synonym for faultfinding—adverse criticism—all too frequently.

In this, as in other human relations, Christian Science recognizes the difficulty and points the way to righteous action. Christian Science makes clear that only as we judge as we would be judged are we living in obedience to the Golden Rule. Would we have our neighbor express his opinion of our motives and acts hastily, with half-knowledge or even less, and solely from external appearances? If not, where are we justified in similarly judging another? "Judge not, that ye be not judged" both carries an admonition to withhold judgment and hints the penalty in case of disobedience; that is, to be judged likewise ourselves. And surely we may not expect judgment more righteous than we are willing to mete to another.

Christian Scientists, perhaps above other Christians, have an obligation in this direction because of the clarity of Mrs. Eddy's teachings as to men's responsibilities to one another. Learning of the true status of man as the child of God, and of the consequent unreality of the false sense of man, we are assured of the necessity of holding to the perfect model in all that we think or proclaim of our neighbor. Moreover, how will the true man be manifested except through constant and consistent holding to the truth regarding man? Surely holding to the opposite, the belief of a material mortal as man, will scarcely hasten the manifestation of perfection, nor constitute righteous judgment. The full significance of the Master's words, "Judge not, that ye be not judged," is probably not reached except in consideration of their relation to another admonition, "Judge righteous judgment." Here, manifestly, the Master was not restricting sound and fair judgment, that which is truly scientific, based upon a recognition of man's true status as the expression of divine qualities. Our Leader's warning in this direction is explicit. When urging charity to those opposed to Christian Science, she writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 444), "Let us be faithful in pointing the way through Christ, as we understand it, but let us also be careful always to 'judge righteous judgment,' and never to condemn rashly." Judgment never has justification unless it be righteous, and right judgment is that which is truly scientific.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

Truth Antidotes Error