“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

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 the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:1-5

Several months ago I heard a man give his testimony at my parents’ church in Lebanon, Missouri.  From the picture he painted, it was clear he had lived a pretty rough life by anyone’s standards. He was not a trained speaker which led me to wonder if his words would affect me at all. Though he could not eloquently communicate like a seasoned pastor, he brought unexpected wisdom and conviction to the congregation. And just when I thought he had finished his story, he hit me with a revelation. What was probably said in passing will be something I’ll never forget. “I can’t judge others because they sin differently than I do.” Woah. Just, woah. Think about that for a minute. I can’t judge someone else’s sins when I recognize I have my own to answer for.

James 2:10 says that “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” God does not view the church-going woman who tells an occasional white lie as more righteous than the one who continually commits adultery. There is no such thing as an acceptable sin to Him.

This has become an even more important message to recall in a time where we want to hone in on homosexuality and abortion. Please remember that it is not our place to JUDGE but to LOVE. As humans, we all have sin in our life (Romans 3:23). If we can remember that we ALL need healing through the loving power of Jesus, we will stop tearing each other down through disapproval of lifestyle choices and recognize the need for forgiveness from our own personal sins.