“Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” (Romans 2:3-4 NLT)
Often our harshest criticism of someone is prompted by their commitment of the same sin we commit but are blind to it’s severity in our own life. Perhaps the clearest picture of this is gossip. We couch our sin in words like “concern,” “desire to help,” or even “prayer.”
A friend confides in us that they’ve been unfaithful to their spouse. They’re devastated and have come to us to get counsel as to what they should do to make things right. Being the spiritual giant we are, we tell them to see a Pastor and seek their advice. Then, the next thing we do is get on the phone or send a text to some choice friends asking them to “pray” for our friend who has just confessed their sin.
Can we not see the hypocrisy, shame, and sin in that decision? Why would we commit such a grave violation of a friend’s trust? There are likely lots of reasons, but the key as I understand it, is a desire to take advantage of another’s sin to point people away from our own.
How do you think the Lord views things like that? It breaks His heart! What if the Lord sent out a memo to all our friends every time we confessed to Him? He would NEVER do that for any reason. Yes, I realize we will give an account of every idle word (Matthew 12:36), but do you realize what “idle” means? It’s a word that means “lazy, shunning the labour which one ought to perform” (Strong’s).
They are words we speak without thought of consequence; without consideration of how they will affect others. What may seem like a joke to us can cut someone to the core. Where do these kinds of words or expressions originate? Judgment! We become the judge of another’s appearance, intellect, or social standing by their color, creed, or convictions.
We set ourselves up as “better” when we don’t even know someone. It’s the origin of racial hatred. We hate what we don’t know or understand, because it’s easier to hate than to get to know someone and learn they’re so much more like us than different from us.
We criticize someone because they have an accent, or they pronounce words differently than we do. Having traveled out of the U.S. and had people laugh at and criticize me because of my efforts to speak their language, my respect for someone who speaks more than their native tongue has grown exponentially.
Why do I mention that? Because when we make the effort to communicate, our relationship can be deepened, not necessarily because we were able to learn one another’s language, but because we learned there are non-verbal means of communication that can be far more effective than words. Love is a universal language that anyone can understand. Love is the key to overcoming intolerance.
While on a mission’s trip to a very poor area of Peru, we had the opportunity to participate in a Maundy Thursday foot-washing service. These were very poor, uneducated folks, but they loved Jesus and opened their hearts to us. What an honor and privilege to wash their dusty feet, not out of obligation or duty, but out of love.
Let me close with these words from Dietrich Bonoheffer: “Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating.” When we allow the Lord to illuminate our own sin, we will become much more understanding of the sin of others.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 