Judge not Unkindly

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 30, 1872

Judge not Unkindly.

In our intercourse with our fellow-men, too much heed cannot be observed by us in our censures of the intentions of others, too great a care cannot be exercised in our judgments upon their actions. We are altogether too prone to forget the beam in our own eye, beyond which we discover the mote in that of a brother, and we all too naturally incline to judge others as we would not wish to be judged ourselves. Who has not faults, who around us that points to his neighbor’s error with so much earnestness, at times, but is apt to commit the same or a grosser fault? Let us be charitable, kind, forgiving, then; for appearances are often deceitful.

At a distance a dew-drop has the appearance of a gem. From different positions, we have entirely different views of the same object. We should not judge a man’s character by a single transaction. Would you express your opinion of the value of an edifice by one loose stone? Then judge not a man by one act of his life. He may have a store of good traits which you have not discovered. What has been the ruling passion of the man? Has he endeavored to elevate his fellow-man? If so, forgive his one error; it is but a feather’s weight in comparison to his good deeds and virtuous achievements.

To condemn and denounce a man for one hasty word which he has spoken, one revengeful sentence he has uttered, one spiteful paragraph he has written, one wicked combination he has entered into, one slander he has repeated, one falsehood he has told, or one vicious step he has taken, is the height of injustice, oppression and cruelty. Not so did the early Christians; not so did the apostles; nor so did the Saviour. Love and forgiveness they breathed from their wounded hearts. Imitate them, and judge only by a thorough examination, and deep conviction of duty, and you will never have the unhappy reflection of those who have been the instruments of driving to destruction men, who, but for one fault, would have been ornaments to society, and rich blessings to the world.