Judging people

I read this blog entry today: Joe Rogan's story. I found it very inspiring and true. Here is an except:

When you hear someone’s story, they are no longer just an idea or an object, they become a human. They become a five year old who had terrifying things thrust on them or a 12 year old who never learned what it feels like to be safe or a single mom who is trying to balance three kids, a job and a million other responsibilities. Stories make 2D people 3D. And in the process, they make it nearly impossible for you to judge someone.

I love that! Read it again - "Stories make 2D people 3D."

***Side note: There is a weakness in this way of thinking - if something terrible has happened to somebody in the past, does that make it okay for them to do bad things or be a bad person? This is besides the point of my blog entry, I just wanted to throw it out there.

Back to judging. I judge people all the time and I hate myself for it. I feel like everybody has a unique set of standards that they hold a person to. For some people their standards are things like never wear black with brown or don't be democrat/republican. If one of those standards are broken that person will judge them as less of a human being (That's kind of my personal definition of "judging" - seeing somebody as less of a human being, instead of the fearfully and wonderfully made person God made them).

Here is my raw moment - my personal standards: I am most likely to judge you...

• if you are Christian Reformed
• if you wear out dated or poorly fitted clothes
• if you are not smart - i.e. you don't have valid reasons to back up arguments
• if you are just like all of your friends
• if you are in a bad situation and you won't do anything to get yourself out of it (you're lazy)
• if you are a flake
• if your children are throwing a tantrum in a public place
• if you live in Grand Rapids and go to Rags yet have never heard of HopCat
• if you judge me first

I think it's good to recognize my standards. Next time I go to judge somebody I can remember that it doesn't really matter what they are wearing or what background they were raised in. And even if they are doing something bad or sinful, it's not my place to judge them.* They were made by God and we really aren't all that different. They deserve my love just as much as everybody else.

*There is a time and a place for recognizing sin when done by a brother or sister in Christ - I am not talking about this. I actually still have mixed feelings if we are suppose to judge their sins. I feel like it should be left to God but at the same time confronted.

Yeah!