Judgmental vs Discerning

Be careful not to pass judgment on others. The passing of judgment and the condemnation of others belongs to God for he alone knows the whole picture. Nevertheless, we are responsible for discerning good from evil in our decision making. In choosing our life-path and our companions, we must practice discernment and choose good. Such wisdom must come from the Holy Spirit and be based on the principles and precepts of the Bible.

Judge not, that you be not judged. Matthew 7:1 (ESV)

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV)

“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. Luke 6:43-44 (ESV)

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread…

The Author’s Personal Note:
The following little piece of wisdom comes from personal poor experiences and a sad heart. Too often I have played the fool. It is my prayer and hope that following little nugget of wisdom will help others from rushing in where angels fear to tread.

Old Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, sung a song titled Fools Rush In. The opening lyrics go like this, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread…” Although Sinatra’s life was far from the model life, the opening word to his song still rings true. When we engage our mouth before engaging our brain, we often end up playing the fool.  A foolish person rushes with rapid responses and answers before knowing fully the matter or understanding the situation. They allow emotions to rule and not the facts.

James 1:19 instructs us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and even slower to react. Proverbs 17:28 tells us, “even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” If you do not know the facts or have a full understanding of the matter, the best response is no response.

But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” Jude 9

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