Daily Reflections on Lk. 18:9-14 (Comeuppance)

Judgments! We make them all the time. We peruse the food court at the mall before selecting a restaurant to suit our liking. We glance over the menu searching for the delectables to satisfy our taste buds. We gaze into our closet in anticipation of our day or activity before carefully choosing the perfect attire for our occasion. We size up the best cell phone, car, apartment or house to meet our need or budget or more likely, our eye. We flip through the playlist on our ipod, itunes, or cds pausing only when the right song fits our mood.

We live in a menu driven society. We like variety and choice. We push, pick, touch, grab, click our selection. When it no longer meets our needs or becomes boring, we select something else. Our judgments are based on what is appealing or satisfying to us, more specifically, to me. And our judgments aren’t limited to cloths, songs, movies, food or other “stuff.” We extend our judgment making into the realm of people, persons, classes, races, etc.

Since we’re good at making judgments based upon our tastes, likes, whims and standards, it’s easy to cast aspersions onto people. We, in effect, begin to place value and esteem upon others based on our opinion, method of expectation, or appearance. This week my youngest daughter is doing an experiment for her psychology class. She’s dressing as an older woman to determine how people treat her and to gain perspective as an elderly person. My guess is she’ll learn a lot about others and herself.

The hardest judgments to make are about ourselves. Sometimes we’re overly critical of ourselves and sometimes we’re totally blind to ourselves. Sometimes we pass off certain behaviors, thought processes, traits (good or bad) as just who we are. It’s tough to be impartial about us.

The only judgment that really counts is God’s judgment. It doesn’t really matter what or how I think of others or myself. What matters is what God thinks. He looks into our hearts and minds and casts His judgment. It’s easy for many of us to take the attitude of the first man in the parable Jesus tells in this text. We make our own judgment about ourselves in light of ourselves; to which God says, “Get ready for your comeuppance.” God is looking for hearts like the second man in the story who recognizes his (or her) own need for God’s grace and cries out to Him.

God, forgive me for my arrogance. I do make judgments of others’ value based on appearance, status, talents, wealth and giftedness. Help me to see myself through your eyes and help me to see others also through your eyes.

Daily Reflections on Rom. 2:1-4 (Intolerance)

We hear a lot about "tolerance" these days. It can be pretty confusing. We expect certain things like food, cars, electrical equipment, airlines to meet certain standards or to fall within certain tolerances, otherwise we demand action be taken. So in some cases we insistent on little to no tolerances. I've put enough boxed furniture pieces together to experience the frustration of intolerances.

Yet, when it comes to philosophies, lifestyles, beliefs and corresponding actions/attitudes, we're supposed to be tolerant. Each to his/her own. Every opinion, every lifestyle, every philosophy is to be equally accepted. Really? What if each worker at the plant decided to drill holes wherever they believed the hole should go on a piece to be assembled? Guarantee that furniture wouldn't go together. What if each doctor decided to treat a certain disease however they felt like, ignoring the treatment that had been proven to work? What if someone believed driving on the left side of the road worked best for them because they were left handed?

I'm afraid in our effort to be nonjudgmental, we've misconstrued tolerance and truth. Telling the truth isn't being judgmental, it's the truth. I can believe the moon is made of green cheese, but that doesn't mean it's true. And sharing that truth with me isn't being intolerant or judgmental. As a friend of mine once said, "Truth is truth even is no one believes it." For centuries people believed the world was flat, but that didn't make it true.

Having said all that, a judgmental attitude or spirit, according to God, is inappropriate. We're all sinners. Nobody's perfect. Everyone is in need of God's grace. As a follower of Christ, we should be the first to recognize that we are all in need of grace. And because we've received grace, we should be the first to offer grace. Some have said that The Church is the only organization that shoots its wounded. Sad to say there is ample evidence to support that. But God is not about condemning or finger pointing or vilification. He's about restoration and renewal and recovery.

Acceptance and tolerance are really two different things. Jesus accepted and loved and ministered to people living in aberrant behavior patterns without tolerating their lifestyles. He offered His grace and a way out. He didn't cut them off or write them off. In fact, the only people He got after hard and criticized were those who considered themselves the spiritually or religiously elite. Interestingly, Jesus criticized the religiously pious and extended a hand to the sexually immoral, the cheats, the tax collectors, the party animal and others.

God, thank you for offering your grace to me, the chief of sinners. Crush my judgmental spirit. Allow me to be full of your truth and grace and to extend both to the people I encounter.

Daily Reflections on Jas. 2:1-9 (Blind Love or Authentic Love)

It's often been said that love is blind. Unfortunately in our society that's not always true. The people who seem to get all or most of the love and attention are the "beautiful" people, the pretty, handsome, rich, talented, or Hollywood type people. Those of us with average looks or drive a Yugo don't get a lot of love and/or attention. We learn it from the time we enter school, it's all about the beautiful people. The rest of us, well, we're just background noise.

For God, love isn't necessarily blind, because He sees and knows everything. But God's love is equal, universal, unconditional, non-gaging, eternal. God loves rich and poor alike, talented and non-talented, beautiful and ugly Betty, obedient and non-obedient. Not that God approves or condones everyone's behavior or escapades. God loves Billy Graham, Paris Hilton, Osama bin Laden, and John and Jane Doe all the same. It's hard to understand that kind of love. Not blind, but all-inclusive.

What James call for here is for all His people to demonstrate that kind of love. When people come into our midst, they should experience God's love through us. Wow, that's hard! James is really talking about an authentic love for all people. James is not saying don't have favorites, because we all have our favorite teams, foods, clothes, etc. He's saying we should treat people equally regardless of their status, wealth, talent, looks, influence, education, race or prominence. It truly is an authentic love for people.

God, help me to see people with your eyes, with your heart. Help me love people, all people, with a genuine, authentic love. I don't want to have a blind love that looks past needs, pains, issues, or sins. I want to have a valuing love that helps, ministers, cares, encourages, protects, allows people to sense Your love through me.