Book 01: Sect. 01: Ch. 14: Avoiding Rash Judgment

Scout · #1 Aug 18, '05, 11:01 am

Ch 14: Avoiding Rash Judgment

Scout

The online version of Section 1: Chapter 14 is available here:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/kempis/imitation.ONE.14.html

WanderAimlessly · #2 Aug 18, '05, 6:22 pm

As with what I said in Chapter 04: Prudence in Action, look before you leap. Rash judgments are part of human nature and are clouded by the way we think they should be. Perception and expectation, it seems, has more relevance that the facts at hand. We need to remove that veil of perception and expectation to see things clearly and make proper conclusions.

PF

**Shoshana** · #3 Aug 19, '05, 4:42 pm

I have learned a hard lesson on this one. I used to work at a Catholic school and one of the teachers was getting married for the second time at her church. My predominant feeling was that this was shabby and just because she had lots of money (and they did), she got her annulment...no problem.

It wasn't until that same teacher approached me one day and started to share with me her traumatic experience with her first husband. This sharing was totally out of the blue. She said that the husband lied before getting married by saying that he wanted children but in reality, he had a vasectomy to make sure he never did!

Now ask me if I wans't blusing and sputtering to our Lord about this incident. It humbled me and I deserved to be humbled. But the Lord, in His goodness, allowed me to experience this for my soul's own good and I promised Him I would try, try and try not to make to make any rash judgments inwardly or outwardly. I still battle it today...but in a much smaller way...

Grace and Glory · #4 Aug 19, '05, 5:09 pm

...no one is willing to be led farther than he can see.

How true this is! I so often hesitate to follow where I think God might be leading me because I don't see how it will turn out. It's very hard to take a leap of faith; I'd rather stick with what's expected and comfortable. And yet every time God surprises me, it ends up being a good surprise. You'd think I would have learned to trust Him by now...

**Katie1723** · #5 Aug 19, '05, 5:35 pm

" Watch over yourself and take care not to judge the actions of other people"
I would do well to heed this! But sometimes it's very difficult, especially when I think they are doing wrong.
~ Kathy ~

antiaphrodite · #6 Aug 20, '05, 10:20 pm

another note to self: If God were the sole object of our desire, we should not be disturbed so easily by opposition to our opinions.

Grace and Glory · #7 Aug 21, '05, 8:04 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by antiaphrodite

another note to self: If God were the sole object of our desire, we should not be disturbed so easily by opposition to our opinions.

wisdom 3:5 · #8 Aug 22, '05, 5:21 pm

Differences of feeling and opinion often divide friends and acquaintances, even those who are religious and devout.

I am just starting to realize this and keep my mouth shut! I hope and pray I haven't and never lead someone away from Jesus just to force my opinion. And if I have, because I might have - I haven't always been careful about what I've said, I pray for those people to come back.

Quaere Verum · #9 Aug 22, '05, 6:37 pm

Over my Catholic life I've had questions about the Bible vs. which talks about judge not & the other vs which talks about removing the plank from one's own eye. I found it difficult to understand how, if we are aware of the truth, we could avoid judging others' actions. Now I read "Our judgement is frequently influenced by our personal feelings, and it is very easy to fail in right judgement when we are inspired by private motives." We must be able to discern our own motives before speaking.

Jim95437 · #10 Nov 6, '05, 7:59 pm

TURN your attention upon yourself and beware of judging the deeds of other men, for in judging others a man labors vainly, often makes mistakes, and easily sins; whereas, in judging and taking stock of himself he does something that is always profitable.

I remember something from somewhere in the past: 'one only dislikes in the other what he dislikes in himself.' Perhaps in judging others, we are really just trying to cover up from ourselves, something for which we are already guilty.

Eileen T · #11 Nov 8, '05, 3:58 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim95437

I remember something from somewhere in the past: 'one only dislikes in the other what he dislikes in himself.' Perhaps in judging others, we are really just trying to cover up from ourselves, something for which we are already guilty.

The judgments a person makes about someone tell others more about the person speaking than the one spoken about. It's about judging others according to your own measure.

We tend to be more condemning of those lapses of others that we struggle with ourselves.

Envoy · #12 Nov 20, '05, 8:20 am

The best thing here is to remember the sin of Pride. This is the core. When we take on God's job we start to look around and form opinions. Very dangerous, but very normal. I am the worst. It is best to lay out our tendencies in writing and work on a few that give us the biggest trouble. List three or four to work on and then list three or four positive behaviors that can replace them. Have in mind a quote of inspiration and write it down and that can be your motto.

cgvnau · #13 Jan 17, '06, 11:59 am

I agree. This passage is about pride. It is a strong reminder that we need God in everything we do and that we should seek His will, not our own.

Pilgrim525 · #14 Sep 20, '06, 8:05 pm

From my pilgrimreveries blog entry I had this reflection and I guess it can be related to this topic:

"Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?" (Mt7:3)

Oh, how many times have the Lord been convicting me on this area in my life? And why do I keep noticing the splinter in my brother's eye? Perhaps it's because I clearly see my own faults and weaknesses in him but I wouldn't admit having them and thus blame everything on him instead. . .I must admit I continue to struggle against the temptation to be judgmental and critical of others. I judge people easily and become self-righteous. I found out a way from doing so. I focus inwardly. I focus on myself: my faults, my weaknesses, my own wretchedness before God. I keep reminding myself that since He has blessed me more spiritually, more is expected from me. And if more is expected from me, then I have more things to account for in this life. That realization humbles me and prevents me from being judgmental. But sometimes I do fall. What matters is I hasten to rise up each time I fall. . . .

just my two cents.
pilgrim

Envoy · #15 Sep 21, '06, 7:59 am

Well said pilgrim, I think that you are hitting it on the head. Yes, it requires a continual focus on how we act. This is very painful so we divert our attention to the faults of others to relieve our pain. It is human nature and the effects of original sin. Our daily dialog with God in prayer should focus on these things along with our pleas for strength to see ourselves honestly but in a way that reflects his goodness. With that in mind, we are nourished by great hope for our potential that He himself creates by way of His likeness on each one of us and by the fact that we are designed to do good. So much so that there is no condition, no affliction, or no fault that cannot be transformed through his grace. As we all know nothing is impossible with God.