Judge Not

The French writer Léon Bloy wrote something like, “The friends of Jesus see all around them the modern Christians, and it is thus that they are able to picture hell.” (Quatre ans de captivité à Cochons-sur-Marne)  So many people who claim to be Christian have no trouble ignoring the simple command that Jesus repeated over and over, forcefully and unambiguously: do not judge.  They get worked up over what other people are doing—usually things that Jesus, in fact, didn’t seem particularly concerned about—but think this command doesn’t apply to them.  Instead of following Jesus’ example, his words: “Father forgive them,” “Neither do I condemn you,” “Judge not,” “Do not condemn,” “I did not come to judge the world,” etc. etc., they are always the ones to “cast the first stone,” and to act like it is their personal religious duty to do so.  What is the source of this perversity that drives people to disregard so clear a command, and become so invincibly self-righteous?  Jesus preached love.  Where does all the hate come from?  No one was more about mercy, forgiveness, and not judging others than Jesus.  He reserved his harsh words for hypocrites, for those who thought they were better than everyone else, because he knew that no one had the right to condemn another.  Yet so many Christians refuse to acknowledge this basic message—and seem to have no trouble preaching its exact opposite!