“The Bible begins with the creation of a world and a garden, with the fashioning of humanity and two trees. One tree in the garden is strangely named the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Not “the tree of sin,” not “the tree of self-destruction”—the Bible writer gives us a lengthier, more descriptive picture of why the tree is poisonous.
Apparently, by eating from the forbidden tree one is given the power to assess, to look at others and to look at one’s self, and measure according to a standard—“the knowledge of good and evil.” The fruit of this ancient tree empowers human beings to see what is praiseworthy and despicable in one another. The tree provides a satanic power; those who receive from it can now accuse.
Of course God says, “Don’t eat from this tree.” That is, do not try and judge as only I can judge. On the day you do, “you will surely die.” We know this empirically. Our judgmentalism won’t always tear another person down, but judging others will always turn our own mind and soul to dust (Gen 3.19).
Many seem to think if we do not expose others’ sins, we are failing our calling. This deadly assumption insists that the world is transformed, not through the power of love, sacrifice, and prayer—but through the power of critique: through the methods of the Accuser and not the methods of the cross.
Isn’t it time to for us to ruthlessly cut out judgment of one another from our sermons, conversations and mindsets? Isn’t it time for us to address personal and social change with long suffering love and when that doesn’t work—doesn’t transform ourselves and those we ought to care for—shouldn’t we try long-suffering love again?”
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Read more: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2015/02/10/judgment-isnt-judging-others-healthy-jeff-cook/#ixzz3RP6psuBX