There are a few people I know that are devout Sunday School goers in their church. One I can think of even pastors a church.

And they aren’t nice people.

There I said it. But you know what? They aren’t.

Some of them are even leaders in our community and their boardroom and behind the scenes actions and words would leave one searching to figure out how those actions pair up with the Sunday School goer and the Pastor titles they hold.

And then there’s me. I’m sitting over here so floored by it all and chatting away at how I can’t believe they act that way, talk that way, tear people down and then show up on Sunday with their Jesus smile and all is good.

And you now what that makes me? Judgey. (It’s a word)

My perception of them, my thoughts of them and sometimes even my play by play account of their actions is just that…judging. But what is one suppose to do?

Have you seen the social media post that says something like “if the words you spoke today were written on your skin for the world to see, what would the world think of you?”

A part of me wants those people to wake up one morning and have their words from the previous day inked all over their skin. But you know what? There are days I wouldn’t want to wake up and have mine sprawled over my body for the folks at the coffee shop and the grocery store to see. You know what that makes me? Hypocritical.

Why is it that we can so clearly see and condemn the wrongdoing in others and not outselves? Maybe it’s because some folks present themselves as holier and we expect more from them? Maybe we just don’t want everyone to be fooled by them. Maybe it’s just easier and more comfortable to be caught up in what others are doing rather than taking a full inspection of ourselves. Hurt and disappointment will do that.

But that’s not my job to tell the world about their actions. .And it’s not your job either. It’s not our job to call them out to the world, even though my human nature sure does want to sometimes.

God doesn’t call us to judge or condemn. He doesn’t need our help in that department.

The Bible says “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 spec of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”

Geez. Did you read that? We will be judged by the same measure we judge others. That ain’t good. I really need to “slow my roll” when it comes to judging. Maybe I need to be more concerned with the “plank in my own eye” than in the actions and words of others and turn my time to praying for those that hurt and disappoint rather than telling the world about them.

You know what we can do? When we are aggravated and discouraged by the failings of others, and we want to take out a billboard to tell the world, stop. Stop and think. What would a billboard about me say? Stop and ask God to forgive us for judging and to help us focus on creating a better you, a cleaner heart in ourselves.

God will deal with those who we were planning a billboard for. Focus on living a life that doesn’t give others anything bad to put on our billboard.