It's a truly difficult and unpleasant thing to even think about; how can I admonish anyone knowing full well that I probably make the same mistakes?
Whenever you choose to admonish anyone, it must be done under the right circumstances, and this takes knowing the person and the nature of the thing you are trying to correct. This takes wisdom. It requires alot of wisdom.
Until then it is best not to correct them on specific things, unless you know how to correct them indirectly. Where it appears they are making the decision to correct themselves and you not correcting them. Which takes wisdom. And it really depends on the person and the nature of the thing you are correcting.
But I believe there is a general answer to this, if it is in regards to sins. The best thing to do is to encourage them to pray and go to bible study if you have it at your church or other religious services. And to pray for them. You lead them to the proper medicines. Because unless you are their elder, or a really good friend or their priest you may be likely to stir anger and resentment.
People sin for a number of reason, lack of faith, lack of strength and lack of knowledge. The best thing is to show them the LORD, and it is hoped that this will increase their faith, which will give them strength and perhaps increase the desire to study religious knowledge.
How can I not judge, and yet make a judgement call? Thoughts?
A pick pocket thief can identify another pick pocket thief. But it is very difficult for a common person to identify a pick pocket thief.
I remember reading in some self help book about this particular issue. Can't remember which one. However, if you want to identify the good qualities and bad qualities about yourself what you do is think of three persons you like and three qualities you admire about them, and then think of three persons you dislike and three qualities you dislike about them.
Those good and bad qualities you identify, you probably have within yourself but do not necessarily realize it.
Perhaps Jesus was teaching this same psychology when he said, "Judge not that you shall be judge, the judgment you give you shall be judged." You are judging people yet you yourself may have the qualities which you are judging. The people picked up stones to stone the adulter, yet Jesus said, let him who has no sin cast the first stone.
The people who are so quick to judge are the people who need to be admonished themselves yet realize it not.
It is easy to learn how not to judge, by realizing you may have those qualities, but it is difficult to admonish people.
Mark the Ascetic said,
"When reading the Holy Scripture, he who is humble and engaged in spiritual work will apply everything to himself and not someone else." (The Philokalia pg 110, "On the Spiritual Law" 6)
And it is our Lord alone who gives success.
In Christ
