It is frightening to think of going to Judgment and being found lacking. We know how often we’ve fallen short. We know the sins we’ve committed and the good that we haven’t done.
After analyzing our shortcomings, we realize that God’s mercy is the only thing between us and the eternal pain we deserve.
We know that some people are raised in a manner that predisposes them to hurt their neighbors. And, we know that God understands that, too. We may be excused for wondering if Judgment is like golf in that each of us is assigned a handicap.
The child of an abuser, for example, may find that he is judged on that basis. Such a soul may not need to have the degree of love for God and neighbor that is expected from another whose background affords less excuse for disobedience.
We may have been told “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” because if we judge, we lose our “handicap”, and are judged without taking any of weaknesses into account. Were that to happen, who could be saved?
