Only God Can Judge the Heart of Another Person

One of the major problems in “throwing pearls (of wisdom) to pigs” is that humans cannot read the heart of another person - Only God can do that. Remember what happened when Samuel went to the house of Jesse looking for the next king of Israel. When Samuel saw Jesse’s son Eliab’s appearance, he thought this was the one to be the next king. But in 1 Samuel 16:7 God told Samuel not to judge by appearance. He went on to elaborate man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. Attributions are our interpretations of what is causing someone’s behavior. Much research has been done looking at attributions and the effects these have on emotions and behaviors. Kenneth Dodge (1990) and his colleagues have done significant research examining the relationship between aggression in children and their tendency to attribute hostile intent to others. For example, if a student bumps another child in the hallway, the aggressive child is more likely to see this as a deliberate intentional act even when it was an accident. This attribution justifies an aggressive response. Negative attributions are common in family conflict as well. We assume another family member is engaging in a behavior because they want to make me mad, they just want to be in control, or they are self-centered. Any of these assumptions about the heart of others is a judgment that increases the likelihood of conflict.

Paul in the second chapter of Romans warns us about judging others. He cites two reasons for not judging others. First, we judge others when we have done the same thing. Remember none of us are perfect, we are all sinners. How often do we look negatively at another person for engaging in behaviors that we ourselves have done? A great example of this involves adult judgment of teenagers’ behaviors. We get upset and begin to think they are going to become irresponsible individuals who will be homeless and stand on the street corner with a sign reading “I’ll work for food,” because they did not diligently study for an exam on a boring piece of literature. Wait a minute; I did not study much for that exam in high school either. On good days we will add the thought, “And I’m not homeless.”

Jesus gives us several examples to highlight this point. In Matthew 7:3 Jesus asks the question, “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?” We are so much better at seeing what others “should do” than recognizing what will make us and our lives better. This is probably one of the fairest indictments of the church by society, “they think they are better than us.” Judgment of others often leads to the perception that we think we are superior and are looking down on others. I suspect that is one of the reasons we are seeing diminished interest in church attendance.

Another example is found in the eighth chapter of John. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees have caught a woman in the act of adultery. They set a trap for Jesus by asking him whether they should stone her according to the Law of Moses. It is important to notice their motivation. It was not to discover truth, but to prove their version of the truth. Whereas Jesus’ goal was not to make others feel bad, but for them to discover truth.

Secondly, Paul recognizes only God can judge with objective truth. Our judgment often is subjective and based on our emotions, our upbringing, the most recent television program we watched, the best-selling book we just read or the sermon we heard last Sunday. Sometimes it may be based on a truth found in scripture. Even when our intent is honorable, what is the best way to lead someone to repentance? Romans 2:4 tells us that it is God’s kindness that leads to repentance. Often it is our kindness not our judgment that will lead others to discover God and His truths. This is Rosaria Butterfield’s story regarding her conversion in her book The Secret Thoughts on an Unlikely Convert. Rosaria was gay and a staunch activist for the LBGQT cause. Her neighbor and his wife, a minister, kept inviting her over displaying warm hospitality. Eventually she surrendered her life and ways to Christ.

Judgment leads to defensiveness and avoidance. Sometimes it is not our intent to judge, but the other person’s perception they are being judged that causes the defensive reaction. We cannot assume total responsibility for the perceptions of others, but sensitivity to that potential is important if we are trying to gain some positive influence with them. God’s judgment in the Old Testament was ineffective in changing man’s heart. It took the mercy and grace of the New Testament through Christ to redeem man. This does not mean we do not stand for God’s truth, but we need to do it with grace not condemnation. The old analogy of collecting honey is applicable here. Kicking over the beehive is not the most effective way to gather the honey.

Bibliography

Dodge, K. A. & Crick, N. R. (1990). Social information-processing bases of aggressive behavior in children. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 16, 8-22.