Monday, January 23, 2012

Where is the line?

A couple of weeks ago, I went into the grocery store to pick up a some things. While waiting in line to pay, I noticed the couple in front of me paying for a few groceries with food stamps. I thought nothing of it really. It was nothing that I hadn't seen before. Well, the guy left to go back to get something, that I just assumed they forgot. When he came back, he had a case of beer. The cashier rang them up, and they paid cash. That actually bothered me. It seems to me that if they had enough money to pay for alcohol then the state shouldn't have to pay for their food.

I had made a statement about it on one of the social media sites I'm on and most agreed but one person said that I should pray for the couple and not pass judgement. Sure, I could add them to my prayer list, but was I "judging" them? No, I don't know those people. Nor do I know their situation but I don't think I was wrong by saying that. Believe it or not, alcohol is not a "need". It is a "want". There are many that have a hard time separating the two.

This leads me to ask, where is the line between "stating a fact" and "passing judgement"? Let's say, for instance, if my cousin is a documented alcoholic. They have been arrested 3 times for public drunkenness, arrested for DUI, and is considered a habitual offender in the eyes of the law. Whenever something is said about him being an alcoholic, he would probably say "don't judge me". Is it really judging or stating a fact?

When someone does something wrong, and you actually call them on it, is it judgment or stating a fact? Is there a line? Perhaps...maybe a thin one.

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