How to Judge Others

Last week I wrote a post all about Mommy Judgment on the internet.  It was pretty well received.

But, there was one intriguing comment, from someone who told me I really ought to clean my floors before snapping a picture.  Apparently, if my floors aren’t clean, she can’t take me seriously.  (I’d suggest to everyone that if you won’t follow a blogger who doesn’t have their life together and their home immaculate and who is perfect, that you really ought to just stop following bloggers altogether.  They are just as real as you are.  They do not have it all together.  They do grab a camera and snap an adorable picture of their baby even with smudges from the toddler’s recent snack still on the floor.)

There was unbelievable irony in being judged on a post about not judging people, and my readers had plenty to say about it!  I’m really not trying to call this person out (hence not using any names or quotes), I was just really struck by the situation.  It also inspired me to write this post, which I’ve been thinking about for a long time.  How to judge others.  Yes, really.

We Can Judge Others?

I’ve had it happen on a couple separate occasions that I was judged by someone I knew in real life.  It was done privately.  It was done gently.  As I said, I knew the person.  But I still didn’t agree with either occasion.  For one, the person and I didn’t have what you’d call a close relationship.  For another, I didn’t think the circumstances warranted it.  (If you’re curious, in one instance, I was asked not to breastfeed in front of men, even completely covered, for fear they might realize what I was doing and get ideas.  Umm…they could do the exact same thing if I left the room with a crying baby, if they were using their imaginations alone.)

But, that’s not to say that judgment is completely bad.

If your friend was doing drugs, wouldn’t you think it was okay to judge her, say that doing drugs is bad, and try to get her some help?  Or if your friend was suffering from postpartum depression…was a hoarder…was cheating on her husband?

I think we can agree that there is a time and a place for judgment!

The internet is not and will never be it.  Judging casual acquaintances is still wrong.  Judging different parenting choices is still wrong.  We are not talking about that kind of judgment.  But, sometimes there is something serious happening and yes, you need to judge, and you need to get involved.

I’m especially posting this because I think that some Christians take the judging a little too far.  I’ve done it myself!  But, it’s a criticism levied against us pretty regularly.  Yes, it is Biblical to judge others.  But it must be done very, very carefully.

How to Judge Others

This is the most important part.  How to actually do it.  If you do it wrong, it’s no better than the sanctimonious internet judging that goes on.  If you must do it, please follow these careful steps.

Question the Relationship

The most important part: do you have a relationship with this person?  How close are you?  If the person you are judging is your mom, your sister, your best friend…it’s likely that you should be the one to get involved.  If it’s your neighbor, that woman you talk to at your son’s karate class, or a friend you see at church every now and then, it’s probably not a good idea.  You must have a close relationship with this person.  You must have a foundation of love and care built so that when you approach the person, they see that love and care shining through your concern.  This is an absolute must.

Question the Issue

Is this really something you have to bring up?  Is it truly an issue of concern?  If your friend is struggling with postpartum depression, there’s no question — she needs help and you need to bring it up.  But if it’s a gray area, like what constitutes ‘oversharing’ on social media, maybe this isn’t something you really need to say.  (In the ‘oversharing’ case, maybe you just lightly say “I really like to only post ____” and leave it at that.)  If it’s a controversial issue, then you need to be really careful.  Maybe you feel very passionately that children ought to be homeschooled, vaccinated, not circumcised, or whatever, but does she need to share your passion?  These are not issues that you can bring up and tell her she is wrong.  You can gently suggest “Have you considered…” but you cannot actually judge.  So before you do, prayerfully consider if you really should.

Question the Timing

When you approach is critical too.  Right after church or karate class when everyone’s rushing around isn’t good (not to mention it’s pretty public). At the very end of a playdate isn’t a good idea either.  Or, even when she’s struggling through a stressful time in her life (unless that’s what you need to approach her about — a mom with PPD is going through a stressful time but that’s not a reason to wait to help her!) might not be so great.  It’s important that you have plenty of time to talk, that everyone is calm and relaxed, and that you are in private.  Judgment should never, ever be public.  That’s not loving concern; that’s an attack.  Choose a private location in which the person will feel comfortable and relaxed to talk.

Question the Approach

If it’s serious enough to say, it’s serious enough to approach gently.  Don’t jump right in when you talk meet them.  Ask how they are, talk about something neutral.  Then, pause for a moment, and preface what you are about to say.  “I need to talk to you about something serious.  I hope you know I love you and I’m only coming to you with this because I’m concerned about you.”  Then share your concerns gently, explain carefully.  Do not judge the struggle or issue harshly (ironic since we’re “judging” right?).  Use lots of ‘I’ statements if possible.  “I’ve noticed you seem really unhappy lately, and you’ve seemed to be struggling since the birth of your child.  I’m concerned you may be struggling with postpartum depression, and I’d like to get you some help.”

This is no time for shame.  If, for example, your friend is cheating on her husband, you would not say “I know you’re cheating.  That’s so horrible, how do you think he feels?”  You might say, “Are you unhappy in your marriage?  I’ve seen some signs that you may be seeing someone else, and I’m concerned that you might be struggling.  Do you need someone to talk to?  I’m happy to listen, or I can help you find a marriage counselor if you’re interested.”  This is gentle help.

Is Judging Really Judging?

What I’m describing here sure doesn’t look like the “judgment” we are used to.  We’re used to hearing that word and thinking something nasty, harsh, and critical.  We aren’t used to judgment being gentle, loving, and out of genuine concern.

But, you know, that’s what judgment should be.  Judging isn’t really judging as we know it.

The above tips are what my reader (that I mentioned at the beginning of the post) missed.  She meant well.  But we don’t have a relationship, she said it publicly, and it wasn’t an issue that really needed to be brought up (we all have different cleanliness ‘standards’ and that’s okay!  Now, had my place been filled with piles of garbage in all directions, well…).

What we can take away from this is, if you know someone who is close to you is struggling in some way, it’s totally within your rights to approach that person and lovingly, carefully speak into their life and offer some help.  It’s what we need to do sometimes, as brothers and sisters.  You know — someone you love so much that you’re willing to tell them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.

If you’re judging harshly, in anger, of someone you don’t know very well — don’t.  It’s not your place.

Have you faced judgment before, or judged someone else?  Did it go the ‘right’ way or the ‘wrong’ way?