Pondering: Mistakes Christians Make During Election Season Part 1: Passing Judgment

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. Romans 14:1 (NIV84)  

There’s a significant gap between actions and responses, and that gap is interpretation. It's crucial to recognize this gap and be conscious of our interpretive process. We often fill this gap automatically, usually within moments, but we fail to recognize all that goes into interpretation.

Life’s bedrock of personality, faith, and culture sculpt our understanding of the interactions we encounter. While faith (belief) is the deepest root of motivations, it never exists in a vacuum where objectivity is disentangled from personality and culture. They are inextricably linked, making it too easy to be blind to their swaying pressures and deny the strength of their influence. 

On top of this, we carry a myriad of influences with us into every interaction that clouds our observation and interpretive abilities. History, political allegiance (ideology and even idolatry), trauma, and emotional (im)maturity affect how we receive what we hear and observe.

How we fill this gap is gravely vulnerable. We come to distorted conclusions as we “fill in the blank” with speed and assumptions. The result is that we pass judgment on others, which leads to distance, division, and, eventually, disdain. Once judgment is passed, more mistakes with increasingly troubling consequences follow; more on that in the days ahead.

Followers of Jesus are exhorted not to pass judgment on disputable matters. This does not mean there is agreement. It does mean, at the very least, that we are to have the capacity to accept and honor the humanity of others, even amid differences.

How do you combat this mistake?

1. Sloooooooowwww Doooowwwwwnnnnn. Be quicker to listen and slower to speak. The gap between the ears and mouth is often too short. In our Culturally Agility Workshops, we use a tool called “DIR”: Describe + Interpret + Respond. Describe what happened objectively, without infusing or assuming motivation on another’s part. Once that is very clear, consider what possibilities beyond your immediate go-to understanding might be behind the interaction. When possible, seek clarity by asking questions.

2. We all interpret the actions of others subjectively. No one is objective, not even one. We can, however, work to recognize subjective influences and quiet their influence so we can see more clearly. Take time to “clothe yourself with humility” by considering what influences currently shape your interpretation of the situation. Are you hurt? Are you politically agitated? Is there a cultural bend you are overlaying on the circumstances? Admit those to yourself before filling in the blank.

3. Remind yourself of humanity's common struggles. We all fall short of perfection. Be aware of your vulnerability to missteps. Examine your eyes to see what log may be stuck in them before attempting to remove the speck of another. This will increase your empathy for others who may be mistaken in the moment.