Judging righteously

How many times have we heard the plea “Don’t judge me!” or felt unfairly criticized by unwanted scrutiny from others? On the other hand, we might remember times when we’ve sought judgment for approval, praise, or advice.

Statements in the Bible about judging may also appear contradictory. Jesus is quoted saying, “Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). But he also said, “For judgment I am come into this world” (John 9:39), as if judgment was his specific life purpose. So which is it? Is judging good or bad?

Perhaps it depends on where we’re looking. Jesus recommended, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). The key word appears to be “righteous” – as when God sent the prophet Samuel to find and anoint the individual who would replace Saul as king of Israel. As Samuel was examining one option, God said, “Look not on his countenance, ... the Lord looketh on the heart” (I Samuel 16:7).

Mortal thinking, based on the human senses, can only judge material appearances, utterances, and actions. But judgments on that basis must be deceptive, since mortality cannot recognize the characteristics of God, the All-in-all, who is immortal Spirit. God created us in His image and likeness (see Genesis 1), so we can only be spiritual. We can’t possibly judge His creations righteously through material senses, or with human standards.

Instead, for guidance we might ask, “What does God see?” Or, what qualities are true about God and His creation – which we can identify as such because they are eternal and harmonious rather than temporal and discordant?

A good example of righteous judgment occurred during a meal Jesus had at a Pharisee’s house. A woman arrived and washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with ointment. The Pharisee thought of the woman as a sinner and was surprised Jesus allowed her to touch him. Recognizing what the Pharisee was thinking, Jesus rebuked him for not showing love and affection as the woman did. Then he outright forgave her, and said that her faith had saved her (see Luke 7:36-50).

We could say the Pharisee had falsely judged and labeled the woman based on her human reputation, whereas Jesus had been open to seeing her spiritual qualities and judged her righteously based on her faith, affection, and repentance.

An immense benefit of righteous judgment is that it can lead to healing. When we reverse false beliefs about ourselves or others, we reverse the seeming effects of those beliefs. Jesus, his disciples, and all “honest seekers for Truth” have healed not by judging from the basis of sin, sickness, or death, but by seeing – judging – from the standpoint of what is spiritual and therefore real (Mary Baker Eddy, “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” p. xii).

A passage in Psalms states, “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace” (37:37). We have the strength and understanding to do this – to recognize ourselves and others as spiritually perfect. And we can be assured that thoughts encouraging us to judge erroneously cannot be our thoughts, as we are God’s, divine Mind’s, image and likeness. We can dismiss wrong judgments with all the strength and certainty of God, good.

And we can always turn from a material judgment to a righteous, spiritual one. A college student once complained to me about a professor, using words like “incompetent,” “unorganized,” “unfair,” and “obnoxious” to describe him. The student had petitioned the registrar to be able to drop out of the course, but too late.

It came to me that I could help the student, who I knew was familiar with Christian Science, by encouraging him to uplift his thought and see how this professor was expressing God, good. We talked about the idea that the professor cannot be what God did not, and could not, create, and that there’s simply no ill will in God’s will or creation.

At the end of the term, I asked him how things concluded with the course and the professor. He smiled widely and said it turned out to be the best course he’d ever taken. He had switched majors, and had asked the professor to be his advisor!

We always have the choice and ability to judge others and ourselves righteously, spiritually, and therefore rightly. Doing so can be the most loving and healing thing we can do.