Information, articles, videos, opinions and more are always filling Facebook and Twitter feeds. Rarely do I click on those links provided. Something has to really grab my attention or entice me in some way. I’m not sure what compelled me to click on this Dustin Hoffman link. The movie Tootsie was made a long time ago and certainly isn’t news today.
I clicked and watched the 3 minute video. I watched the effect as Hoffman explained how he had been changed and convicted by his own judgment. He realized that there were many women he had ignored because he had judged them before ever having a conversation with them. Many of us women have had the experience of being ignored or feeling less than because we don’t live up to the media’s version of beautiful. I certainly have, but this video caused me to examine myself on a deeper level.
That short video convicted me. I suddenly saw my own judgment. My judgment goes beyond just women and appearance. I judge the appearance of both genders. I judge intelligence. I judge choices. In fact, I filter almost everything through what I think is appropriate. Hmmm, the last time I checked the world doesn’t revolve around me. When did I get so self-righteous?
How many people have I shunned because they weren’t worth my time? I must say watching this video made me a little sick to my stomach as I realized how much I judge. I can blame media and advertising but what goes on in my head is my responsibility.
Jesus says in Matthew 7: 1-2 Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Jesus words here are very clear. Judge and you will be judged. And, I have control over the measure to which I am judged. That is definitely an incentive to work on this. I’m not feeling good about being judged to the level I have judged others.
The sad part is many of my judgments are wrong. How can judge ones choices if I haven’t walked in their shoes? I know that we all do the best that we can with what we have. We make choices with the information we have available and the beliefs we have at the time. There is no doubt that I would make different choices today than I did 20 years ago. I know I don’t want to be judged by those choices. Today I have more information and a greater understanding of who I am in Christ. Well, let’s be clear. I don’t want to be judged for the choices I made yesterday and today either. I need to practice accepting people for who they are in the moment and not judging them by who I think they should be.
What about you? How are you doing with judgment? Are there people you have ignored? What are your plans to improve? Thankfully, I have some honest people in my life to hold me accountable. Do you? Maybe there is a particular judgment you are struggling with. Share it here and we can help each other. That’s the beauty of the journey. We get to continue to grow in the areas in which Christ convicts us.