​I was a weird college student; I read the assigned reading. One of my freshmen assignments was to read an essay by John Steinbeck; I don’t remember the title, but it was about scientific measurement and observation. I’ve thought about it many times over the years and have tried to find it without success.

​The main point of the essay was that by observing (or measuring) we change the object we’re observing, sometimes only negligently, other times drastically. By just walking through a tidal pool we change the ecosystem for its residents; for many the change is imperceptible, but for any anemone we step on, the change can be drastic.

​I don’t remember this being in Steinbeck’s essay, but measurement and observation do change the observer and the measurement device. When someone steps on a scale, in the case of an older scale springs are compressed, while in a newer one the conductivity of transducers is changed. These changes are how the weight is measured, and most are short lived. Some are longer lived, however, and the scale will eventually wear out. The observer is also changed; depending on the scale reading, he/she can be happy, sad or even depressed.

​In Matthew 7:1-2 and in other places Jesus warns us not to judge or measure others, lest we be judged or measured. I had always interpreted this as warning us not to usurp God’s role. Reading it more carefully I see that it really is a warning against being hypocritical – that by judging others it changes us into not taking responsibility for our own sins.

By judging others we also change them; they can feel demeaned, threatened and rejected, and may even be thereby tempted to act poorly. Besides, because of biases and imperfect human vision our judgments are likely to be in error.

Certainly, this is not in keeping with the commandment to love our neighbors. To learn more read Matthew 7:1-5, Luke 6:37 and Romans 2:1-4, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

From Jim’s post in July 2017