“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.”
Luke 6:37 NLT
Working as a mediator has revealed how swift I am in jumping to conclusions.
Christians are often portrayed across the media as close-minded. If true, it’s a travesty of all that Jesus taught. Not one of us is invited to judge another. We may disagree and explain the nature of that disagreement clearly. However, disagreement is no excuse for rejection of another image-bearer of God.
On reflection, I have discovered I am judgemental. Once I make up my mind, I lose curiosity for the other and stop making any enquiry after their welfare or exploring their perspective. The first step I had to take was a closer look at what I believed and why. Challenging circumstances helped here. It was of no help simply reciting my well-established mantras in the face of difficulty. I had to engage in the hard work of exploring what I believed and why. And then to learn to live with the questions I carried. Nothing wrong with questions; they provide the fuel for learning.
Very slowly I moved from a closed to an open mind. I was still confident in what I believed but was much more hospitable to everyone I met, regardless of whether they agreed with me or not. I let go of my suspicions and abandoned my anxiety and chose to give myself openly to others. Friendships formed and flourished. I was not required to change or deny my world view. Rather, I became engaged in a stimulating and healthy conversation about all that makes the world turn in the way it does.
QUESTION
Are there are any people or groups of people that you are particularly judgemental towards or hard on? If so, why?
PRAYER
Lord God, may my heart be loving and forgiving even to those that do not or will not love me in return.
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