JUDGING VERSUS TELLING THE TRUTH: Is There Any Difference?
There has always been a misconception between telling someone the truth versus judging them. No matter how much you to try to explain yourself, people still think you are judging them. The enemy is now using this to silence a lot of people from speaking the truth and hearing the truth, because he knows the truth will set them free.
While telling the truth is right, judging is wrong. Most of the time, the reason we feel we are being judged is because we are already aware that what we are doing is wrong and this makes us defensive.
TRUTH VERSUS JUDGMENT
Check out these two scenarios. Mike and Edwin each bought a land and plan to build their family home on it. Mike decides to build his house on sand while Edwin choses to build his on rocks. We all know whose idea is the best here.
SCENARIO ONE (TRUTH)
Edwin to Mike: Hey there bro, nice land you got there. But if you don’t mind me telling you, I just don’t think the house will survive if a storm or a strong wind comes by. Maybe you should try using the rocks. I think it’ll be safer for a family home.
SCENARIO TWO (JUDGMENT)
Edwin to Mike: Mike, are you just dumb or what? Don’t you know a house built on sand will easily collapse? I’m sure you want to kill your entire family otherwise why even think of such a stupid idea.
From scenario one, Mike could still say Edwin is judging him despite the fact that Edwin was nice to him. This shows that Mike is aware what he is doing is wrong but still chooses to do it anyway and needs nobody’s opinion.
From scenario two, Edwin, without even knowing why Mike opted for the sand has already passed his judgment on Mike. It could be that Mike couldn’t afford to buy rocks or he innocently had no idea that rocks would be a better option hence the sand became an option. But Edwin may never know Mike’s reason since he never asked him
WHY MUST WE TELL EACH OTHER THE TRUTH?
- It is God’s command:
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. John 14:6
- For freedom:
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
- For Growth In Ourselves And In Our Relationship With God: Telling each other the truth will help us amend our ways and become better persons.
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ“. Ephesians 4:15
- Our Love For One Another: If we say we love someone then we must learn to always tell them the truth. Remember, they always say "hurt me with the truth than with a lie".
CONCLUSION
If you must say the truth, say it in love. Have a calm discussion with the person instead of screaming and trying to make your point heard or trying to force an opinion on them. Listen to know why they believe in what they believe. We can be very persuasive if we allow God to speak through us, out of love and compassion for the other person’s eternal life.
Sometimes when we attempt to tell people the truth, they may call us hypocrites because they have probably seen us commit sins before but that shouldn’t stop us. Let them know that people make mistakes and can get better and that’s all that matters. You are a better person now and you would like them to be better too.
Most of the people we love are in bondage. We who have been set free by the truth are to speak that same truth in love to people who do not know God. We must not remain silent. We must pray fervently for them and trust God to give us the right words to say whenever we open our mouth to speak to them.
Eternity without Jesus is hell and we must let the world know this.