Before you read about the enemy of repentance, you should know something about me, the author of this article. I have amazing superpowers, and plenty of them:
- On the freeway, from inside my own car, I can spot “idiots” by the way they drive. (And believe me, there are loads of idiots!)
- On social media, I can discern the tone of voice in a text, a Instagram or a Facebook post. If I’m watching a video, I can go beyond tone of voice and tell you the exact motivation of the person posting.
- While reading the New York Times I possess all the insight needed to instantly solve all the world’s problems (even though a reporter from the Times has never called me to ask my opinions).
You get the idea: my superpowers are a dazzling combination of mindreading and deep analysis. I’m a mash-up of Megamind and Mother Teresa. Of course, the scripture doesn’t use the term superpower. It doesn’t look like Jesus is impressed at all:
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)
Judgment: The Enemy of Repentance
If you’re into being in control, being a judge is a great deal. Think of a courtroom: judges do not repent, defendants do. The judge sits above the situation. In fact, the judge sits above everyone else in the room! Everyone else in the room wants to win the judge’s attention and approval. Ultimately, the judge gets to decide who gets to say what, and how much they get to say. Argue with the judge you will be met with a contempt of court citation—which you cannot challenge or contest. It is final.
The habitual practice of judgment is an enemy of repentance. As soon as I cast myself in the role of judge, I have excused myself of the need to repent, because after all, it’s all about me. Come to think of it, only three kinds of people wear flowing black robes: graduates (who think they know more than they do), judges (who hold all the cards, and wizards (who, admittedly, are pretty cool—but far less common than the first two).
