While God, in His wisdom, has made us uniquely individual, He also has crafted us for community. We do not exist independently either of God or people. Even He dwells in the Holy Communion of the Trinity.
So where is the balance between minding my own business and holding others accountable when need be? While I am called upon not to judge others, in the sense of condemning what I can not understand, I am called to be discerning and rational in my actions.
So we are commanded to “know the times,” to beware “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” and to be courageous enough to intervene when justice is not being served or a friend’s behavior becomes self-destructive. That is a different kind of “judging ” we should do.
We must be awake and aware of child abuse, for example, and realize when someone is taking advantage of us or others. In other words, we must never hide behind the “Do not judge!” command out of cowardice or undue fear of hurting someone’s feelings.
The book of Proverbs is a fountain of wisdom in this area, warning us against the naivete that is taken in by schemes, evil company, foolish companions, and stories that sound too good to be true.
The choices facing us going forward will call for discernment, but we will not be up to the task if we blindly believe patently false political narratives, reflexively trust all “experts,” or can’t spot a hidden agenda. No one can do this for you. Wisdom can not be outsourced.
“Father, help us know rightly when to intervene and when to be silent. Guard our hearts against naively following false narratives that fit our own preconceived ideas. In Jesus’ name. Amen.