The sin of judgmentalism, even if we believe that it is committed in order to correct our brother, has grievous consequences for our spiritual life.
l. St. Isaak considers malicious gossip to be the admittance of the passions into the soul. He says: “He who guards his mouth from speech guards his heart from the passions. The man who cleanses his heart from the passions beholds the Lord at every moment”. “If you love purity, in which the Master of all can be seen, do not speak disparagingly of any man or listen to another who maligns his brother … A silent mouth interprets God’s mysteries, but the garrulous man is distant from his Creator.” (19) St. John Klimakos writes: “If it is true (as it really is true) that with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged (Matt. 7:2), then whatever sins we blame our neighbor for, whether bodily or spiritual, we shall fall into them ourselves. That is certain.” (20)
2. The damage done by judging others is not restricted to one person. “He who speaks ill of another harms both himself and those who are listening … In this way he piles up on himself a double debt of sin, as he becomes responsible for both himself and those who believe what he is saying.” (21) Such a person “lives in a state of anxiety, is suspicious and afraid, … trembling at the thought that, at some point what he said may be spread around to others … On the other hand, he who keeps what he knows about others to himself is completely secure .. .It is written in Holy Scripture: If you have heard a word, let it die with you (Wis. 19:10) … That is: Erase it, bury it, do not allow it to come out of your mouth … Make absolutely certain not to receive those who vilify others. If you ever hear a bad word, bury it, forget it,… and in doing so you will live your life in total peace and security.” (22) He who judges and condemns his brother “alienates himself from God’s mercy which is enjoyed by the Saints.” (23) And he who does not enjoy divine mercy is deprived of every spiritual gift.
3. Another reason to refrain from judging our fellows is because the information we have heard about their lives may not be accurate. The holy Fathers advise us not to trust even our own eyes.
St. John Chrysostom, heeding St. Paul’s words. Therefore, judge nothing before the time, [that is] until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of every heart (1 Cor. 4: 5), says: “Even if you believe that you have accurate information regarding your neighbor, your judgment is erroneous. For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? (1 Cor. 2: 11.) How many of those who are cast-off and lowly are destined to shine brighter even than the sun! And how many of the great and renowned will turn out to be ashes and whitewashed tombs!” (24)
The renowned Abba Poimen said: “It is written: ‘Bear witness to what thine eyes have seen’ (see also Prov. 25:7). But I tell you. Even if you examine something by your own hands, do not bear witness; for a certain brother made a fool of himself in just this way by harboring evil suspicions against one of his brothers. One day he saw him sinning, as he supposed, with a woman. Perturbed and exceedingly agitated by this, he went and prodded them with his foot, saying: ‘Stop now; how much longer will you carry on like this?’ Well, lo and behold, what he found were two bundles of wheat, one on top of the other. This is why I told you that, even if you examine something with your hands, you should not be quick to reprove.” (25)
~Hiermonk Gregorios, Do not Judge: Understanding the Vice of Passing Judgment
19 St. Isaak the Syrian, Homily 15. The Ascetical Homilies, Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Boston 1984, p. 84.
20 Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 10, 9.
21 St. Antiochos. Homily 29.
22 St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on the Statues, 3, 15.
23 Abba Isaias, Lesson 23, 3.
24 Homilies on the Obscurity if the Old Testament, 2, 9.
25 The Evergetinos: A Complete Text. vol. 3, Etna 2008, p. 7.
