I think one of the most shocking and life changing experiences would be if someone followed me around for a day or two with a video camera and then made me watch the video play back. Like that Mockumentary show The Office where you watch the actors in action, then listen to them talk about each other. It would probably be shocking to me if I could really see and hear myself as others see me, and to see the judgments that I make about people by how I interact. By how, and in what I invest the majority of my interest, time, resources… I’m afraid that the conclusion would be --- the most valuable person is…. Me.
Jesus says, "Love your Neigbour as yourself" It would seem that somehow, one day, we will be able to witness how I have judged others. As I will be judged by how I’ve judged, I will be treated the way I treated others. I agree with John Wesley, that these are awful words because I am setting the standard by which I myself will be judged. I don’t know about you, but the first thought that comes to mind is, YIKES.
If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
How far do you take this? Jesus seems to take this to the furthest of extremes.
Consider, for example, Jesus’ encounter with the adulterous woman in John 8:1-11. Here is a woman who was rightfully judged. She was indeed caught in adultery and the Law/policy demanded that she be stoned. They throw her to the ground and pick up their rocks of judgment. Yet, we see Jesus coming between the Law/policy, kneeling down beside/ not standing over, writing something in the sand and saying, ‘he who is without sin cast the first stone’. Maybe he wrote “by the way you judge, you will be judged!” That’d do it for me.
One of the greatest and most powerful ways to value another in God’s mind is forgiveness, liberal forgiveness, with reckless abandon.
How far do you take this? Jesus seems to take this to the furthest of extremes.
Consider, for example, Jesus’ encounter with the adulterous woman in John 8:1-11. Here is a woman who was rightfully judged. She was indeed caught in adultery and the Law/policy demanded that she be stoned. They throw her to the ground and pick up their rocks of judgment. Yet, we see Jesus coming between the Law/policy, kneeling down beside/ not standing over, writing something in the sand and saying, ‘he who is without sin cast the first stone’. Maybe he wrote “by the way you judge, you will be judged!” That’d do it for me.
One of the greatest and most powerful ways to value another in God’s mind is forgiveness, liberal forgiveness, with reckless abandon.
But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:15
That’s intense –
Matthew 18:21-22
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
How many times are we to forgive the same person who sins against us? I'm not sure I like the answer.
Matthew 16:19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."
It would seem folks, that we hold a tremendous amount of power in our hands since it is possible for us to hold each other hostage. We bind people with our words, with our attitudes, and with our judgments. We establish word and opinion built prisons that we keep people locked into.
The greatest value I can offer you is to open my hand, open my heart and release you from my judgments. And the result is a double edged sword. It would seem that by releasing you, I am freed. By letting go of my judgments, I am no longer judged by the standard I have created.
Jesus follows the warning of the judgment standard we establish with these words:
3 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
It’s not that we are ignoring issues, and simply have no judgment at all – and accept everything. It’s that I must get rid of the log in my own so that I can deal the speck in my friend’s eye. However, the motivation and method I do this is far different. Rather than me standing in judgment, I am a friend who speaks to encourage, strengthen, admonish and counsel those around me. So rather than just saying ‘encouraging’ words to those who can advance me or benefit me in some way – I’m investing in the lives of those around me.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. Proverb 27:6
I need my friends in my life to see those specks and help me. In fact, these might be my own log that I can’t see!
Anyway I was just thinking,
Neil
0 comments:
Post a Comment