Matthew 7:1-6
Do Not Judge
1 “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.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Let us learn from Jesus that judging others can take many forms...It may take the form of insulting language, which is a clear and often aggressive way that one person expresses a condemning, uncharitable, and often hypocritical judgment about another, directly violating the spirit of Matthew 7:1-6...But sometimes in one's life we must confronti divisive language and insults...Let us do it a a Christian way...
When leaders resort to dehumanizing language, labeling others with insults and names, it creates a hostile and divisive environment that can be deeply troubling for someone who values tolerance and empathy as Jesus does...From a biblical standpoint, and based on Absolute Truth, such language is directly contrary to the Spirit and teachings of Christ...
Jesus teaches us about judging others...Judging others while ignoring or downplaying our own significant faults (the "plank in our own eye") is absolutely wrong...Hypocritical judgment such as pointing out minor flaws in others when we have major ones ourselves...We slearn that condemning judgment from Him...A spirit of harshness, condemnation, and devaluing another person's worth is also wrong...
Here's how one might approach this as a person of Faith who seeks Tolerance and Empathy:..
Let us recognize that dehumanization as unbiblical...The Bible consistently teaches that all human beings are made in the Image of God (Genesis 1:27)...This inherent Dignity means that dehumanizing language, which strips people of their humanity and treats them as less than human, is fundamentally against God's Design...Insulting people and calling them names is a form of defamation and slander, which the Bible condemns (Proverbs 10:18, Ephesians 4:31)...As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31), and it's impossible to truly love someone while simultaneously labeling them as subhuman...
Jesus's teaching in Matthew 7:1-6 is incredibly relevant here...When leaders are quick to cast stones and label others, it often reflects a failure to examine their own hearts and motives...As individuals, our first response should not be to reciprocate the harsh language (but it is a natural human reaction), but let us take a breath to ensure our own thoughts and words are pure and in line with Christ's teachings...This doesn't mean ignoring the problem, but approaching it with self-awareness...
Let us best we can cultivate empathy and understanding toward all people...Even when faced with rhetoric that lacks empathy, a person committed to Christ-like living is called to lean into it...This means trying to understand why people in power and sometimes leaders might use such language (fear, a desire to energize their base, genuine conviction, or even a lack of self-control), without condoning the behavior itself...It involves praying for them (Matthew 5:44) and seeking avenues for reconciliation and understanding, rather than further division...Tolerance, in its truest sense, isn't about accepting all viewpoints as equally valid, but about treating all people with Dignity, even when you strongly disagree with their actions or beliefs...It is like love the person, hate the sin, or love the person and disagree with that specific viewpoint or viewpoints...
Let us speak about the Truth in Love (Ephesians 4:15)...While we are not to engage in reciprocal dehumanization, Christians are also called to be discerning and to speak against injustice and ungodly behavior...This means challenging such divisive rhetoric, not with anger and insults, but with Grace, Truth, and Forgiveness and have a firm stand for human dignity...This can be done by: Refusing to echo the language and do a tit for tat with the one you disagree with...Do not repeat the labels or participate in the dehumanizing discourse...Affirm that all humans are created by God and they have dignity...Speak about the inherent worth of all people, regardless of political affiliation...Let us better promote civil discourse...Be a speaker of God's Word and the Holy Spirit Advocate for respectful conversation, even in disagreement...Praying for peace and wisdom... Ask God to soften hearts, including those of leaders and those swayed by divisive rhetoric...Try to maintain a Spiritual Peace amidst the chaos in the headlines...
It's easy for divisive rhetoric to steal one's peace...As believers, our ultimate citizenship is in Heaven, and our hope is in God's Sovereignty, not in any political leader or outcome (Philippians 3:20)...Guarding your heart (Proverbs 4:23) by limiting exposure to inflammatory content, focusing on prayer, and dwelling on God's Promises can help maintain Spiritual Peace even when the world around you is in turmoil...The goal is to be a peacemaker and an ambassador of Christ's LOVE in a polarized world, even when it feels like an uphill battle...Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9)...