Portal of the Church of Pilgrims, in Washington, DC, with a LGBT banner. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Having an opinionated blog like this one really opens you up to other people’s strong opinions when they disagree with you. It’s all part of the fun really.
In particular because of the content, which often touches sensitive topics like abortion, pornography and homosexuality, people can, and have, ended up feeling like this is a soapbox for judgmentalism.
And perhaps it is.
But perhaps there’s a fine line between judgmentalism and discernment, and the real challenge is to determine where that line sits.
A while ago now I posted one of my most visited posts about homosexuality. I probably communicated there better than on other occasions how it’s important to say when sin is sin while at the same time accepting people as they are and offering infinite grace to people who actively embrace sin.
So judging in the form of discernment is important and good, but judging in the form of judgmentalism is bad, and a sign of deep-rooted pride. So, without feeling judged, why not ask yourself the following questions which I’m plagiarising from Chris Simpson to see if you’re more judgmental than discerning:
- Do you find it difficult to forgive others quickly?
- Are you quick to judge others but slow to take criticism yourself?
- Do you tend to blame others more than you take responsibility yourself?
- Do you often feel judged by others?
If they made you feel more condemned than convicted, here’s a lovely summary of the difference between judgmentalism and discernment from a self-proclaimed Reformed Baptist:
Without love it’s only a hair’s width.
Thank God it’s all of grace.
Thanks Sam, provoking.
When one commentator applauds a golfer for judging a shot just right, you don’t hear another say, “what right does he have to judge anything!”.
I was speaking to someone who works in social services about the use of the word ‘judgment’, he said that because of the negative connotations they’re not supposed to use it; instead they encourage people to ‘discriminate’ between what’s good and bad behaviours!
Words; If only they could become a person and explain to us what they mean.