tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7332117297336636395.post8290790985629545764..comments2023-11-22T11:42:06.780-05:00Comments on Do Not Be Anxious: How Dare You Judge!Do Not Be Anxioushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04607616214486933423noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7332117297336636395.post-85278038386384414892016-03-07T12:26:24.022-05:002016-03-07T12:26:24.022-05:00Thank you, Fran. Too bad you don't live close...Thank you, Fran. Too bad you don't live closer. I think it would be good to sit and talk to someone once in a while on complex matters, like these.Do Not Be Anxioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04607616214486933423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7332117297336636395.post-83332354491619599112016-03-04T18:22:34.803-05:002016-03-04T18:22:34.803-05:00Tom, it's great to reflect as you have on the ...Tom, it's great to reflect as you have on the topic of judgement and mercy. It really is a very nuanced topic, and Satan loves to confuse our thoughts on it, especially in these days, as he seems to have confused the person who responded to your comment with condemnation.<br /><br />Oh, mercy on the drug addict that robs, steals, lies and shows no remorse, taking advantage of everyone within throwing distance. Yes mercy. <br /><br />However, look at St. Paul's condemnation of sinful behavior in his letters. Wow. Talk about harsh! If you were to say those exact words of St. Paul to someone today, you would get such backlash it isn't funny. The world today throws back the "do not judge!" dictum in the face of Christians, and we worry, oh no, am I sinning if I judge something wrong.<br /><br />I don't see how your comment was in all wrong or judgmental. It is an error to believe when Jesus tells us not to judge we must be passive about the evil we see around us. What it means is that we judge the actions as evil, but not the man. We sorrow at the sinfulness we all have, that the person had, since the consequences are now coming to fruition, and we note that, but we don't say, Oh that evil, damned man. We say, God have mercy on him and all us sinners who are destroying ourselves. God have mercy on him despite his sin.<br /><br />The bottom line for me is that we must look around and judge the actions of others as good or evil, not so that we can condemn them to hell, or note in a self satisfied way that they are reaping the harvest of their sinfulness (because often, there but for the grace of God go I). But rather our judgement serves to acknowledge and speak of the sorrow we feel that sin has hurt them, that they did not do good, and are now suffering. Noting the consequences is not judging their soul, but making note of how sin destroys us in so many ways, and finding a reason for compassion, since we all are heading for the same thing in one way or another.<br /><br />How foolish to ignore the effects of sin in our own lives, or in the lives of others. But Satan would silence us even with our own Scriptures. <br /><br />I would think a good internet search on what the Church Fathers said about judgement would be an excellent place to start. Bet you will find great insights there.<br /><br />Here's a pretty good article from the Archdiocese of Washington website:<br />http://blog.adw.org/2011/06/judgling-like-the-judge/<br /><br />God bless, Tom ~ FranAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com