The Foolishness of Prejudging

Joshua 22:16

Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?

The two-and-a-half tribes were going back to their inheritance after all the battles were won. Before they crossed the Jordan River to go to their homes, they built an altar as a memorial to their children and to the rest of the tribes of Israel to remind their brethren that they were brethren even though a river divided them.

When the congregation heard what these tribes did, they assumed they built this altar to worship false gods. Their assumption led them to gather the armies to go to war against these two and a half tribes. The congregation made the mistake of prejudging these people instead of going to them in a peaceful manner to find out why they built this altar. This whole incident could have been averted had they not prejudged the motives of these people.

Most of us are guilty of prejudging people or situations without hearing the other side of the story. Prejudging has destroyed many good relationships. The problem with prejudging is that we assume the worst, act upon our prejudgment, and often ruin a good relationship when we find out that what we assumed was not true. Let me share some advice about avoiding the foolishness of prejudging.

First, it is foolish to judge someone’s motives. We think we know what people are thinking, when we truly don't know the motives of one’s heart. Many people have had their name marred by people who prejudge their motives wrongly. Many have formed wrong opinions about people because we prejudged their motives. You don't know someone’s motives, and to prejudge their motives is wrong. Why can't we take someone at their word as to what they say their motives are instead of prejudging them? The answer is that we believe we are superior to those we prejudge. To prejudge one’s motives and mar their name only reveals our own pride that we feel we are better than others. Never fall into the trap of prejudging one’s motives because you cannot know their true motives.

Second, it is foolish to judge people on hearsay. Just because someone has told you what another person has said does not make it true. Many have acted on hearsay about a person only to find out the hearsay was wrong. Many have acted on hearsay without hearing the whole story only to hurt one’s name because the hearsay we heard was negative. The foolishness of acting on hearsay shows our lack of discernment and maturity to wait until we hear the whole story.

My friend, don't be quick to believe the negative about people. I would rather believe the positive about people and be wrong than believe the negative gossip and be wrong. Always err on the side of believing the positive. Don't let your flesh and pride cause you to believe the negative.

Moreover, before forming an opinion about anyone or any church, learn to wait until you know their side of the story. There are always two sides to every story, and waiting to hear the other side will keep you from prejudging people and churches wrongly to your own shame.