Should we judge people for their mistakes?

[Louisabell]

I think when people say "don't judge people", they really mean "don't condemn people". People are worth more than the sum total of their actions. Everyone has the possibility to change. So it serves us to keep that possibility open, not in an enabling way, but just to keep it in the back of our minds when we consider our dealings with people.

However, proper discernment is useful and automatic anyway. Always set healthy boundaries as it's the loving and wise thing to do.

For a basic example I had a friend who was not trustworthy with money. I did not condemn or reject him. I just didn't ever lend him money I wasn't prepared to lose. I treated him exactly the same as any other friend, except for that additional boundary. When he became better with money, in his own time, I welcomed in those changes.

People grow on their own schedule, there's no rushing it. And yes, there are some people with whom the most appropriate boundary is no contact at all, but it's not because they don't have worth.