Billy Connolly said, “Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that, who cares? He’s a mile away and you’ve got his shoes!”
Jesus was pointed: “Do not judge others” (Matthew 7:1).
Through the years, I have observed that we tend to judge others by their worst actions, while we judge ourselves by our best intentions. And that is why we should get out of the judgment business.
Let’s get specific. There are several reasons you should not judge another person’s addiction.
- You don’t know her genetics.
- You don’t know her abuse.
- You don’t know her trauma.
- You don’t know her wiring.
- You don’t know her circumstances.
- You don’t know her heart.
Recovery Step: Think about someone in your life who suffers from addiction. Now make a decision: (a) judge them, or (b) love them. Choose prayerfully.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
