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| "The Pharisee and the Publican" -- by James Tissot |
If
there is one thing that I believe most people can't stand, it's
"uppity people" who look down their noses at everyone. You
know what I mean. I am talking about those people who are absolutely
convinced that no one else is quite as good as them. At least that is
they way in which they perceive themselves to be.
Very
much like the Pharisees. they see themselves as "above"
others, especially in a spiritual sense, and they believe themselves
capable of judging just who is, and who is not
Christian.
What
they don't realize is, that by their judging of others, they tread
not just on dangerous ground, but deadly ground. Jesus warned
us not to judge others [Matthew 7:1], that we would be judged by the
same criteria we use in judging our brothers and sisters [Matthew
7:2-3]
People
make the mistake of thinking they can judge someone by how he or she
looks, talks or dresses, and once again they fail to heed Jesus'
warning about this as well [John 7:24] Jesus also told us we can't
read the heart as God can [John 8:15], and that only He can
truly judge [John 8:16].
Now
when I talk about judging how someone dresses, I am not referring to
those who are scantily clad, but those who's manner of dress may come
from more modest means. I know of an instance of this.
This
was in a church where one farmer attended every Sunday dressed in his
bib overalls. Some of the people in that church complained to the
pastor that the man was not dressed "good enough" to come
before the Lord.
The
pastor told them that he was grateful for a God who didn't look at
how well they were dressed, but looked at how well they held Him in
their hearts. He told them that because he knew how God looked at the
heart, that he was sure that all those who held God in their hearts
would be more than happy to come the next Sunday dressed in bib
overalls, as he, the pastor would also do. God he said, isn't
concerned with whether we attend in a $500 suit, or in bib overalls.
He just wants His children to love and honor Him.
In
essence, when ever you or I attempt to judge someone, we are calling
them a fool for not being Christian in our eyes. We must not
fail to heed the warning from Jesus about calling our brother or
sister a fool [Matthew 5:22], for again we endanger ourselves.
If
you or I get to the point of not just thinking, but believing that we
are capable of judging another, then we have assigned ourselves the
role of God, and we have also become like the pharisee who exalted
himself above the publican and other sinners [Luke 18:10-14].
So,
the bottom line is, do not fall into the trap of judging others.
Don't
feel so smug, and satisfied in your perception of your own sanctity,
that you believe you are capable of deciding who is, and who is not
Christian. Only God can read the heart, certainly not you nor me.
