Changing the way the world sees us

When you hear people talk about Christians a lot of the time (though not all of the time) they are talking about how judgmental they are. Even Christians sometimes think Christians are judgmental. And much of the time it is true. How did we get here? How are we, who are suppose to be like Christ, said to be some of the most judgmental people? Jesus himself was the one who was out dining with sinners and here we are condemning those who do the same. Those who actually live in Jesus' name.

I find, though I do not claim to know all of the answers, that a lot of this attitude comes from just being human. When we think we know the answers, when we think we have it all figured out, we find it easy to commend ourselves and those who live like us and find it easier than anything to judge those around us who don't live out the same way- even if they are claiming to live for the same Lord and Savior.

I like how Madeleine L'Engle puts it in this quote and I think it is a very humbling truth. "What I believe is so magnificent, so glorious, that it is beyond finite comprehension. To believe that the universe was created by a purposeful, benign Creator is one thing. To believe that this Creator took on human vesture, accepted death and mortality, was tempted, betrayed, broken, and all for love of us, defies reason. It is so wild that it terrifies some Christians who try to dogmatize their fear by lashing out at other Christians, because tidy Christianity with all answers given is easier than one which reaches out to the wild wonder of God's love, a love we don't even have to earn." (http://classiclit.about.com/od/lenglemadeleine/a/aa_mlenglequote_3.htm)

I think she is quite right and that if we all lived even a little bit like that- if we really lived like Christ lived- then we would be seen less like a bunch of judgmental, hateful people and more like the ones we long to be- loving, compassionate and accepting. It is our job to love and accept people as they are, like Christ has done for us. That does not mean that people don't have to change the way they live if they accept Christ, but love comes before change and repentance.

I don't think that we mean to be judgmental much of the time. I think we want to be like Jesus, that we strive to be like Him, but quite often it's just human effort that can distort who we really long to be. We just need to follow and listen to God and let Him fill us up with His Spirit and Love.