It's hypocritical to judge others while calling ourselves Christian

“Don’t listen to her,” one woman said about another woman. “She’s kooky.”

After hearing that, I thought, I wouldn’t want someone to call me that; would you? But it happens. We label. We judge. Nevertheless, we claim to be Christian. As a result, we are hypocrites.

We judge the family whose child committed suicide. We judge based on someone else’s words, opinion and/or story without finding out for ourselves. We judge someone’s character and skills based on an off performance. We judge parents if their child is wayward.

We judge because someone’s overweight. We judge the single mother who has six children. We judge the person who's been married several times. We judge based on hurt feelings. We judge based on what someone has or doesn’t have. We judge based on misunderstanding. We judge because it’s become a nasty habit.

One of my favorite scriptures is Matthew 5:44, which reads, “But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

Sometimes these words are easier to read than practice, but we must practice and become what they say.

One doctor I’ve known for years gave me great advice, which applies especially well when I feel I am being judged: “Always remain constant. People may change around you, but always remain constant.”

People show their colors through judgment. Judgment’s like this nasty storm that won’t leave. Work not to step into someone else’s storm. And work not to create one of your own. Instead, love and forgive until you can’t love and forgive anymore.

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them,” said Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

I wish I could have served with this woman. She knew what a waste of time it was to judge. Think of all the service you could do with the time typically spent on things like gossip and spreading rumors, for instance.

Last I checked, judging wasn't good for the soul. Have you ever heard someone say, “Yeah, I judged about 10 people today and I’m feeling good!”

The adversary wants us to judge; conversely, God wants us to love. Let’s not be hypocrites and say we are Christians while pointing fingers or uttering unkind words about others.

Cynthia Kimball is a professional speaker, trainer and doctoral student in work force education leadership. Her column, "Every1Counts," appears regularly in Deseret News and on deseretnews.com. She can be reached at kimball@every1counts.net.