A short video of students from Kentucky had news reports and social media buzzing this past week. The teens were faulted and demonized because of false assumptions concerning their actions and motives. They had participated in the March for Life and were waiting for buses to return home from DC when they came under brutal verbal attack.

They chose to not respond in kind.

I won’t go through the whole report because it has been over-reported already, but I will say I’m proud of those young men. While in a very uncomfortable position, with vile insults being directed at them, they chose to respond by drowning out the attack with school spirit chants rather than react.

When a Native American beating a war drum added to the commotion by coming into their space, Nick Sandmann chose to personally stand his ground and face the Indian, who was just inches away. He looked very awkward much of the time, but chose to smile rather than escalate the tension. His smile was interpreted as a smirk and led to him being vilifying by the media and in social media.

The students of Covington, Kentucky demonstrated self-control in a very difficult situation. Slander, name-calling, and threats were heaped on them from strangers who did not witness the incident.

The original attacks were unprovoked, and it’s notable that the students were not doing anything illegal, weren’t harming anyone, and were unknown to their attackers. And yet, they were judged as being at fault and became a handy target for attack.

Matthew 7:1 records Jesus saying, “Judge not that you be not judged.” It’s a sad reflection on a nation when a four-minute clip gives license to so many people to make judgment and seek to destroy strangers with so little evidence.

Sadly, this isn’t an isolated incident. Similar name-calling and threats are broadcast daily as someone (from both side of a disagreement) attempts to give weight to their cause by destroying their perceived opponent. Sadly, the problem is escalating and the longer it continues, the deeper the schism will be.

I think the true problem is that we’ve moved away from God and from loving our neighbors as ourselves. If that’s so, only a genuine revival, one in which our nation turns back to God, will bring the change we need.

In the meantime, we are self-destructing with our judgment. It is a trap that spirals downward, catching bystanders in its vortex. I can’t fix the nation, but I can start with me—and God asks that of each of us.

When Jesus warned us not to judge, He continued, “For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you” (Mt. 7:1-2).

The event in Washington didn’t happen in a vacuum, it began with judgment in the past. We’re in the midst of a stormy battle. Every time we judge someone on the other side of the fence, it will be passed back. Both sides are guilty and it escalates as it’s volleyed back and forth.

When we are judged, we judge back. Jesus said so. When we’re pushed, we push back (internally if not outwardly) especially if it’s a repeated or ongoing judgment. That’s true even if we only identify with someone else who is unfairly judged. The kids from Covington were pushed, and I identified with them.

I slide into judgment without realizing it. (Is it just me?) Too often, I respond with negative, critical thoughts about “them,” whoever them might be.

But, Jesus speaks to me again. He says, “Love your enemies.” Love them? Hmmm. Love your enemies. But He didn’t stop there. He said to “pray for those who persecute you” (Mt. 5:44).

“Love your enemies” is personal and individual. I am to love “them.” And pray for them. And for those who name-call, slander, exaggerate, spin the story, or spread false reports.

Jesus’ words are straightforward. They don’t leave any wiggle room, no way to rationalize out. We are to love and pray for our enemies, not to be negative and critical.

I can’t do that. It’s not natural. I need help.

Oh, I can pray, but how do I stop the negative, critical thoughts?

That’s the hard part. When judgment is cast in my direction, I want to judge back, and even to fight back. Not to love. Not to be patient and kind, bearing all things, and enduring all things. I find myself doing the things of 1 Corinthians 13 that I’m not to do (or be). You know, things like being arrogant, rude, irritable, and resentful.

I try not to show it, but in my heart, I believe I’m right, and I want right to win!

The greatest of these is love. Love wins. As strife builds and judgment abounds we must remember that the greatest of these is love.

Lord, teach us how to live and to love in the midst of the storm of vitriol and judgment.

 

Learn more about the destructive trap of judgment in a free e-book, The Judgment Trap.