Judge Not

Lest ye be judged yourself.

“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I work for a large corporation in the service industry. I will not name it but as a hint, they provide uniforms and facility services to many businesses across the U.S. and Canada. I know my Christian beliefs do not always align with whatever values the company must pretend to hold based on the political climate or what great cause is being championed this month or the next. It does not need the trouble and neither do I. 

My job requires me to visit the same 60 or so businesses weekly. We’re talking about gas stations, restaurants, car dealerships, doctors’ offices, and everything in between. This means throughout each week I interact with and witness interactions with loads and loads of people. Most of the time these exchanges are forgettable. But every once in a while I see or hear something that really rubs me the wrong way. 

It was a sunny Wednesday morning. I was in a car dealership, changing out dirty carpeted mats for clean ones as I do every Wednesday. I was minding my business, working away, and making small talk with the employees as I went. In walks one of the mechanics for whom I had recently ordered uniforms. This particular mechanic is unique because she is one of maybe just three women I know who are mechanics. In fact, she is the only female mechanic who works at this dealership. She also stands out a little bit because she presents herself in a more traditionally masculine way than most women, even among female mechanics I know. Anyway, in walks this mechanic. I wave and ask her how her day is going and if her uniforms are as they should be. She replies that she is fine and “yep, the uniforms are all good, thanks” and keeps on walking. Pretty mundane. Then I saw it. A customer of the dealership, this middle-aged conservative-looking lady just glaring with disgust and hatred towards the mechanic as she left the room. Thankfully the mechanic did not seem to notice. But I did. For the next few hours, I could not un-see the judgment and hatred I saw in that woman’s face. 

She saw a female mechanic with short hair and work boots and decided she was an enemy. 

It made me so mad. Which was strange because it had nothing to do with me. I wasn't the one receiving a dirty look. Why was this bothering me? 

Here are my initial thoughts. If I were a betting man, I would bet you my next paycheck this lady identifies as a Christian. This Christian lady had seen this other woman performing a traditionally masculine job, while also appearing a little more masculine and decided on the spot to treat this person with contempt. Instead of simply ignoring her, or going a step further and viewing her as someone made in the image of God (which she is), she decided to use her face to express disgust instead of love.

I provide uniforms for many mechanics. Most of them are men and that’s just how it is. But when I meet a woman and am asked to order her uniforms I think nothing of it. It’s none of my business why she or anyone else decided to become a mechanic just like it would be none of my business to ask why some men decide to be nannies or nurses. Sure it’s a bit outside of what we see regularly but honestly who cares? Anyone should have the freedom to pursue any job or career they wish without being boxed in by cultural norms. 

There are no issues with how this lady mechanic dresses, cuts her hair, or with any other choice she makes with her appearance. I barely know this person. My attitude toward her should be the same as it is toward any other person whether I know them or not. First and foremost, she is a human being made in the image of God. I am to treat her with dignity and respect. Is it likely that if she and I somehow got into a discussion about Christ, Christianity, theology, and right doctrine we would disagree? Probably so. But how is that relevant to anything? This is a person who might love Christ and keep his commandments for all I know. She also may not know Christ at all. Maybe all of her interactions with Christians have been like the one I witnessed where she just gets mean looks or the cold shoulder. Unfortunately, that seems likely. So in my eyes, the absolute best thing I can do in my interactions with her is to display love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Maybe if I can just be a Christian when I interact with her I can act as some sort of ambassador for Christ and make a good impression. Maybe, hopefully, if she does not know Christ, I become a window through which Christ is revealed instead of a wall that blocks Him from view. 

I ran through all of this in my head. While I felt justified in my opinions because I couldn't see how they might be wrong, I was still being bugged by something. And then it hit me. All my anger and ranting meant on some level, I thought I was better than that middle-aged lady. I had put myself above her. I was now the nasty judge.

Here I am complaining about how this woman should be more like Christ and stop being so rude and all I have to go on is this dirty look. Now granted I think the glare told me a lot but I could never know for sure what she was thinking or intending. She might have already had a bad morning. Maybe she had just fought with her husband or her children. Maybe she had just recently been mocked or belittled for her beliefs. Ultimately though none of that matters. I had taken something that happened in about 20 seconds and used what I saw to label that woman as a problem and at that moment I thought I was better than her. Because of course, I would never judge someone the way she just had…

Then the words of Christ came to me. 

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Mathew 7:3-5 

The Holy Spirit had spoken and the conviction lay heavy on my shoulders. I was guilty. What was I to do now? Thankfully I knew the answer. Understand my conviction, confess my sin, ask God for forgiveness and repent. 

There is so much I do not know. I don’t know the mechanic well. I don’t know how she spends her time. I don’t know anything about her life or her family. But I do know this; I can pray for her. 

I don’t know the lady who gave the mean look. I will likely never see her again. To be honest, if I did see her again I wouldn’t even recognize her. I don’t know if she is seeking God or not. But I do know this; I can pray for her. 

I still see these things at work from time to time. Though ever since that Wednesday, I have been more careful not to rush to judgment. I’m not perfect at this yet and I may not ever reach perfection, but I will continue to try. 

Thankfully, Jesus, the ultimate Judge, is one who will convict you, but will also do everything in His power to prevent you from condemnation. As we focus on becoming more like Him, love becomes the action we engage in while the burden of judgment is laid at His feet.