judging.

Time and time again I have to catch myself as I'm inadvertently judging someone (usually because they're slandering/judging someone else). That happened today, as one of my friends was just pretty much showing his hate for someone and their actions - and just really grasping at thin air when he wanted me to sympathize with him. All I could do was nod and frown at the same time, not taking sides on the issue.

As I was listening, I began to feel some of that same hate towards my friend who was telling me these things about another person. Who was he to have the right to say such things? But, who was I to judge my friend like that? What had I to boast about that I had more of than he?

I stopped myself and prayed a short prayer under my breath. Constant prayer seems to be more important than any other spiritual discipline. I realize that I wasn't loving my friend, I was judging him with contempt... Not for his good or for the glory of God, but for my own thoughts and my own gain.

There's nothing wrong with judging, in certain contexts.
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. 'Expel the wicked man from among you.'"
- 1 Cor. 5:12-13

But this judging heart needs to be done with discernment in itself - to glorify God and out of love, that we can "hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed, and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord." (1 Cor. 5:5).
I should care less about how I might condemn him and more about how I can help him - to empathize, that I am not above falling to such deeds, and to show God's unconditional love and grace.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23