A word that keeps coming up in the online world is "judge." More accurately, it's two words, "don't judge." We've even coined a new word, "judgy."
I've seen judge and judgy (my spell alert keeps coming on for judgy-telling me its not really even a word) on blog posts, Facebook, and twitter. I've seen it applied from what you feed your kids, to what you think about Pinterest, and to what you post about. It is used for important things and non-essentials.
To judge is to form an opinion about through careful weighing of evidence and testing of premises; to form an estimate or evaluation of-particularly to form a negative opinion about; to hold as an opinion.
I think in our very online/social media society everyone puts a whole lot of things out into the stratosphere that in prior times just wouldn't have been discussed. We've lost something called discretion in the name of transparency.
And, if some disagrees with us, it is called judging. It is NOT OKAY.
I think this is rather interesting, and kind of funny, actually. Really, who cares?
So what if everyone doesn't agree with you? So what if everyone doesn't do things the way you do? So what if...?
God is into variety. He didn't just create bear and earthworms and call His creation good. He created thousands of different birds, fish, and animals. And that isn't even touching on all the different species of insects.
Here is a snippet of Professor Dumbledore wisdom that I came across yesterday. It was from the scene when Hagrid was hiding out because people had discovered he was half giant.
"Not all of 'em" said Hagrid. "Not all of 'em want me to stay."
"Really, Hagrid, if you are holding out for universal popularity, I'm afraid you will be in this cabin for a very long time," said Dumbledore. "Not a week has passed since I became headmaster of this school when I haven't has at least one owl complaining about the way I run it. But what should I do? Barricade myself in my study and refuse to talk to anybody?"
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What to do
1. Don't judge. That's Biblical. Matthew 7:1-2 says, "judge not that you be not judge. For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged. With what measure you measure, it will be measured to you again." Prepare to receive back what you dish out. If you are nasty, you are going to get nasty back. If you are being judgmental of others, you are going to get judgmental back. And the reverse is true too.
2. Be discerning. All judging isn't bad. We need to discern between good and evil. What is worthwhile and what is not. Another verse is "judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgement." John 7:24
Frankly if you don't agree with someone over and over again-why are you following them? If you are fundamentally on different pages, why continue reading? Why hang with them? No one is making you. But, if you find that the good out weighs the bad, then be nice. Agree to disagree, or just plain be respectful of their opinions and style.
3. Be discrete. Maybe you shouldn't air out all of your dirty laundry. This is not to say that you should act like you are perfect and have it all together. But, are you, or is someone else, going to be embarrassed by this info later?
4. Another Biblical truth is found in Ephesians 4:29, "let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good for the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers." Edifying is building up. Grace is undeserved, unearned favor and kindness.
This doesn't mean you can't disagree with what someone says or does. How are you putting forth your opinion? Humbly. In love, like Ephesians 4:15 says? This goes for both posting and commenting. I like to also think to myself, "would I actually SAY this to this person?" Probably not. Then don't type it.
5. Be thick skinned. Just because someone does things differently doesn't mean they don't like you, or are judging you. We are all just different people. We like different things. We have different personalities. If someone leaves you a negative comment, either answer it or delete it. Don't read into it or assign motives.
6. Don't give up. You are the way you are. You write what you write. Your blog is how it is. Your life is how it is. Maybe it needs some tweaking. But just because there is opposition doesn't necessarily mean you are supposed to change. Do what works for you. Do what God has called you to.
Take a cue from Paul-fierce opposition, amazing ministry. 1Corinthians 16:9, "for a great door and effectual is opened to me, and there are many adversaries."
A Final Thought
"Never judge a work of art by its defects."-Washington Allston
