Tag Archives: Judging others

Being a Blessing

Living in the Spirit

August 9, 2022

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 23:23-29

Am I a God nearby, says the Lord, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back—those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the Lord. Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

As in the times represented in the Bible, we today must deal with false prophets. How do we discern a true prophet from a false prophet? Do the prophets’ words meet the test of loving God and loving all of God’s children? We are called to love not to judge. I appreciate Christ taking on this task and freeing all of us to love people for who they are and who they are becoming.

For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; and he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. –John 5:26-29

First, I note, that the things I believe separate me from God may not be the same as those that separate others from God. Second, when I observe people getting caught up in behaviors or ideas that I perceive as being harmful to them or others, my merely judging them and perhaps ostracizing them is not helpful and may be harmful in and of itself. By loving them and walking with them I may be able to assist them in working out their situation or steer them toward others who can aid them without being judgmental. Third, my life experiences are not broad enough for me to fully understand anyone else’s deepest needs. God does know each of God’s children completely and I must depend on God to guide my relationships with others if I might be a tool to help them.

Prayer: Lord, make each of us blessings to others we meet along life’s ways. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Dealing with Our Foes

Living in the Spirit

June 23, 2021

Scripture Reading: Psalm 30

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up,
   and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
   and you have healed me.
 O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol,
   restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones,
   and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment;
   his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
   but joy comes with the morning. –Psalm 30:1-6

I do not think about having foes. I certainly know people who disagree with me on many things. Foes, though, seem to suggest some enemy that wants to harm me. My primary foes are part of me. The simple ones are the voices that whisper just one cookie will not make any difference. Or they highlight my sins of omission. Maybe I do not need to write my representative this time. Many other people are doing that, and he or she never pays any attention to me anyway. Or sitting in a meeting thinking somebody should say something because what is suggested is wrong and I sit there in silence.

I have noted a trend in our society that what we classify as the worse sins in the world are the things most of us would never do or have any reason to do. Many are not mentioned in scripture. While we ignore or at least readily assume forgiveness for us and the others in our circle, sins that are clearly articulated in the Bible are accepted as the way things are now. Of course, judging others and forgiveness of sins is not our work anyway. That assignment went to Jesus. Our task was and is to love one another no matter what. If we think about it, the people we need to love the most are those who the world considers the least of these.

What is our responsibility toward attaining reconciliation among those with whom we have markedly different understandings of God’s purpose for us? Much of Paul’s ministry was dedicated to answering that question. He sought to find the things on which they could agree and move forward from there.

Prayer: Lord of Love, forgive us for creating our misery as we try to serve you in the most convenient ways for ourselves. Guide us in stepping forth in faith to perform the way you set forth. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Doing the Work of Love

Living in the Spirit

October 14, 2020

Scripture Reading: Psalm 99

The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble!
   He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
The Lord is great in Zion;
   he is exalted over all the peoples.
Let them praise your great and awesome name.
   Holy is he!
Mighty King, lover of justice,
   you have established equity;
you have executed justice
   and righteousness in Jacob.
Extol the Lord our God;
   worship at his footstool.
   Holy is he! –Psalm 99:1-5

As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.’—Luke 19:41-44

The vision of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem pops into my head routinely now as I observe the division and chaos going on in the USA. We cannot even agree on what is just and what is not or what is right and what is wrong. Evil has truly worked its magic across our land. The saddest thing is that people on all sides will agree with this statement, but they do not agree on what evil is.

Of one thing I am sure, Jesus loved justice. He saw corruption for what it was, and he was crucified for challenging power. But God is indeed a Might King, a Lover of Justice, and death on the cross was not the last word. We now live in a post-resurrection world. Gifted by grace, we are called to be in partnership with Christ Jesus, Lord of All, to labor in his service. Loving God and loving one another are his commanded action steps toward expanding justice and peace throughout the earth. Hatred and human condemnation have no place in Christ’s job description for us, nor does self-righteousness. We are called to establish equity in all our endeavors. The judgment of our success or failure at doing justice is delegated to Jesus Christ. Thus, Jesus’ ways are our best means of success.

Prayer: God forgive us for we do know what we are doing, and the chaos we are creating we call good.We cannot seem to extract ourselves from the web that enslaves us. Help us to find the path back to you.  Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Christ, Our Model

Living in The Spirit

August 27, 2020

Scripture Reading: Psalm 26:1-8

Vindicate me, O Lord,
   for I have walked in my integrity,
   and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
   test my heart and mind.
For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
   and I walk in faithfulness to you.

I do not sit with the worthless,
   nor do I consort with hypocrites;
I hate the company of evildoers,
   and will not sit with the wicked. –Psalm 26:1-5

And then came Jesus Christ.

We are wise to call on the Lord to test our hearts for our integrity. We are foolish when we set the standards for righteousness by our own measure or the norms of our culture.

Who do you think Jesus would have dubbed worthless? Would he not have said Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore*? I think he could have and might have added let me know what difference a little love can mean for them.

Jesus was hard on hypocrites, but he did not shy away from dialogue with them. The four gospels record 16 times when Jesus chastised the self-righteous for their hypocrisy. Learning to speak to others about difficult issues is an art that must be supported by love.

Evildoers and the wicked could be what we classify as criminals today. In Matthew 25, Jesus states that we are to visit prisoners, and that suggests to me that the purpose of those visits was not only to bring them food for their bodies but to work with them toward the restoration of their souls.

In general, evildoers and the wicked are those who do harm to others for their own gain, are dangerous to society, and are often skilled at never getting caught. Their cunning can be attractive, and they are often the merchants of the idols we worship today like greed and lust for power. These people, too, must be confronted as Elijah confronted the priest of idols in his day. And, yes, they also need soul restoration.

Prayer: Lord, we pray for you to search us, help us see our shortcomings, and correct them. Help us also to not claim our righteousness based on our judging others. Amen.

*From the poem, The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus engraved on Statue Of Liberty National Monument

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Judged by Our Love

Eastertide

April 27, 2019

Scripture Reading: John 20:19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’ –John 20:19-23

When we think of sin what is the first thing that comes to mind? Doing right or wrong? Obeying laws? Sin is the translation of the Greek word Hamartia, which is defined as missing the mark, a failure, an ethical failure*. The NIB Commentary explains it this way: To have sin is to be blind to the revelation of God in Jesus. Jesus brings people to judgment by his revealing work and presence in the world**. Matthew 25 is explicit in describing this judgment when it talks about taking care of the least of these. Christ judgment is based on how well we love our neighbors as we love ourselves, how well we carry on Jesus’ work throughout the world, how well we let his gift of the Spirit work within us. Any ultimate judgment is reserved for Jesus according to John 5:22, The Father judges no one but has given all judgement to the Son

So, what is Jesus saying in the above scripture about forgiving the sins of others and retaining the sins of others? He is not saying that we are sent into the world to judge the behavior of others. Such judgments are often based on cultural norms even as they apply to the laws set forth in the Hebrew Bible. For example, we now have fact checkers assigning degrees of lying. Since lying is so common place, it seems not to matter anymore at least to humans. Some laws like the Ten Commandments stand the test of time and, if followed, can contribute to the development of the Kingdom of God.

Other laws and rules are needed to add order to our world. They change as society progresses. New laws were needed when horse and buggies were replaced by cars and they will change again as car no longer require a driver.

Here John is saying that our judgment of others is based on their acceptance of a role in being the Body of Christ fed by the Holy Spirit in the world today. As the conduits of love to reach all the peoples of the world, we have a grave responsibility to fulfill, before we could ever decide to retain the sins of anyone.

Prayer: Lord, strengthen us in letting he Holy Spirit work through us toward building a better world. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/266.htm

**The New Interpreter’s Bible, A Commentary in Twelve Volume’s Volume IX, Abingdon Press,  1995, Page 847

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Just Love

Living in the Spirit
August 25, 2018

Scripture Reading: John 6:56-69

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’ But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’ –John 6:56-69

The teaching referred to in the above scripture is Jesus saying we must eat his flesh and drink his blood to be a part of his Kingdom. Of course, he is speaking metaphorically but I do not think he is overstating the case. The internal struggles that occur within us as we deal with the temptations of the world and the commandments to love God and love one another are hard. Our tendencies are to define narrowly what loving one another means and often define the other as people who are like us. We expel people from the list of those we must love who are not our color, not our sexuality, not our income bracket, not our language, not our faith. Jesus identified no limits.

We also like to restrict our love by our definition of sin. We say we love people but not their sin. In this case, we apply our definitions of sin to the other setting ourselves up as a judge. I think Jesus was clear that none of us got the assignment of being judge regarding others relationship with God. Jesus set the example by interacting with all types of people seeming to prefer those who were viewed as outcasts. Perhaps he thought they needed more of his love since, we his followers, were not willing to love them.

The paradox is when we let go of our need to control God and learn to love like Jesus, life gets much easier not harder. We do not have those internal struggles we do not have to worry about what other people think or how they will react. If we allow the love of God to flow through us, it is much easier to let our love flow to others.

Prayer: Lord, cleanse me of the insecurities that hold me back from loving like Jesus. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Loving without Judging

Eastertide
May 1, 2018

Scripture Reading: Acts 10:44-48

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, ‘Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

It seems to be difficult for humans to love one another without judging one another. There is no link between the two. Ultimate judgment lies only in God’s purview, delegated to Jesus Christ. Society has identified a need to judge people who may cause harm to others and thus we have an extensive judicial system based on the rule of laws that were developed over time and experience and are updated as experience dictates change. There was a time when it was illegal for persons of color to eat in public restaurants; now it is against the law to forbid persons of color from eating in public restaurants. Of course, we as individuals, families, and groups make formal and informal judgments all the time. Some organizations restrict membership based on where one lives as in a home owner’s organization, how people dress, and so forth. Such judgments are limited at times by civil law and for persons of faith by their religious tenets. While such acts of judging are necessitated by culture and protecting the Common Good, they should in no way restrict our ability to love one another.

The problem is such judgments do often get in the way of our loving one another. For example, the law restricting people of color from eating in public restaurants was overturned because many citizens saw such a law as infringing on other rights and unrelated to any harm that might be done to white people. The Bible was and is used to justify all kinds of discrimination based on human judgments that are counter to the commandment to love one another.

In our scripture today Peter is talking about the laws of his faith system that said only Jews could know the Holy Spirit but his own eyes saw that was not the case and he called his audience to account for continuing this exclusion practice when he said, ‘Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’

We need to follow the example of Peter and recognize when our love is failing because we are judging when it is not our job.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see the hypocrisy of our judgments when considered in the light of your commandment to love one another. Not only help us see but help we overcome. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Worshipping the Baal of Greed

log-eyeLiving in the Spirit
May 23, 2016

Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 18:20-39

So Ahab sent to all the Israelites, and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel. Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ The people did not answer him a word.
–1 Kings 18:20-21

Sound familiar? It should. It accurately describes our world today. The Baal is money and the power it can buy. If we search deep in our souls, we would find that most of us have worshipped at its feet. Its power has oozed through every crevice of our lives. It is probably best reflected in our political systems right now. We cannot put the blame on the politicians for we created them. Demanding that they provide for everything we want without being willing to pay for it. The Common Good has lost all meaning; greed is good.

What passes for morality today is concern about where transgender persons go to the bathroom. According to the New York Times, the best estimate of the number of transgender persons in the USA is about .3% of the population (700,000 people). In 2014, 48.1 million Americans were classified as food insecure most elderly and children; 35 million Americans make less than $10.55 an hour which is well below the living wage requirements but above the minimum wage requirement of $7.25 an hour. Our prisons are currently filled with non-violent offenders, who are disproportionately persons of color with numbers running in the millions. And we are concerned about where people, who probably just want to be left alone, go to the bathroom? Have we lost our moral compass?

It is time for us to turn around and face our own trespasses. Reorganize our priorities and get in synch with the God of love who cares for all the children, adults too, of the world by following Jesus’ example.

Prayer: Lord forgive us for failing to take the log out of our own eye, while being overly concerned about a speck defined by us in our neighbor’s eye. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Judgment

Jesus before sanhedrinLent
March 23, 2016

Scripture Reading: Acts 10:34-43

Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’

‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

 I have often wondered where we ever thought we got a say in judging God’s relationship with anyone. Yet we seem to relish the task, casting doubt on people who do not practice the same theology that we practice.

Jesus commanded us to love God and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I think achieving those two tasks will surely take me a full life time leaving me no time to judge anyone else’s beliefs or behaviors. Jesus actually drew the assignment to judge all of us and yet he said to the woman caught in adultery, neither do I judge you, go and sin no more. (John 8:11)

As we experience again the trial of Jesus this week consider what is behind the judgment calls being made about him. They have little to do with his actual actions and much more to do with the threats his actions bring to those judging and the way of life they have chosen to practice. How much of our judging of others is primarily concerned with protecting ourselves?

Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I shy away from loving a neighbor who intimidates me, who I do not understand, who does not fit my way of being. Let your love flow through me to enable me to love the others I encounter along life’s ways just as they are. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

How Do We Judge Others?

Come and SeeEpiphany
Celebration of God
Manifested in the World
January 17, 2015

 Scripture Reading: John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’  — John 1:43-46

 How do we judge others? Does it matter to us from where they come? Do we size them up by the clothing they wear, the car they drive, the friends they keep? Is it important how much money they make, property they own, or influence they may have? Can anything good come out of Nazareth?

When I was in high school and college I worked summers at a local chain restaurant. All the waitresses had been instructed to be sure and ask all customers if they wanted a piece of our freshly baked pies. One day I was assigned to work the counter. A man in his late sixties probably, dressed in khakis and a plaid shirt sat down at the counter and said, “I just want a cup of coffee.” As I poured the coffee I asked, “Don’t you want a piece of pie to go with that.” “He said what do you have?” I rattled off a list of all the pies baked that day and he order a piece of pecan pie. He drank his coffee, left me a nice tip, and left the pecan pie untouched. I found out later that he owned the chain and routinely liked to drop in unannounced to check on the service.

One of the greatest challenges God has placed before God’s people is recognizing the worth of every one of God’s children. Not only recognizing but working to assure that each person’s contribution to the Kingdom of God is actualized fully.  This lesson is taught by the example, of Jesus, a son of questionable birth, born to a carpenter, raised in a small unimportant village. He is the Christ, our Savior, Son of God.

Prayer: Lord teach me to respect all your children. Guide me as I work with others with whom I am in synch and with those who see the world differently than I do. Like good music unite us as one, in harmony and in dissonance, as we work together for the realization of your Kingdom here on earth.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.