Judge No One.

"'The Father judges no one.'"  John 5:22 (NRSV)

"'Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.'"  John 5:19 (NRSV)

"'You judge by human standards; I judge no one.'"  John 8:15 (NRSV)

Jesus says he, like the Father, judges no one.

So how can we anticipate a Judgement Day?

People have been predicting this Day for thousands of years but it never happens.

Perhaps we are justified in thinking that it will never happen.

Humankind has projected its expectation of Natural Justice onto God.

But God does not work in this way.

God is wholly good, wholly benevolent.

"The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish."  2 Peter 3:9 (NRSV)

Rather than punishing us for our transgressions, God waits for us to change.

He gives us another chance.

So, like God, we should refrain from judging others.

And offer them another chance.


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division Of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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