Wedneday's Word...12/5/12

JUDGED.

      A number of years ago in California, an elderly woman went to the grocery store to do some shopping. When she returned to her car, she noticed four men getting into it.
     The woman dropped her shopping bags, reached into her purse, and pulled out a small handgun that she carried for protection. She ran to the front of her car, aimed the pistol at the men, and began screaming at them at the top of her lungs. She ordered them out of the car and warned that if they didn’t, she would blow their brains out.
     “I know how to use this gun, and don’t think I won’t!” she screamed.
      The four men didn’t hesitate. The threw open the car doors, scrambled out, and started running as fast as they could.
     The woman was trembling, but kept her composure. When she was certain the men were gone, she put the gun back in her purse, picked up her bags, and loaded them into the back seat of the car. She then climbed into the driver’s seat and decided to go immediately to the police station to report the incident.
     But there was a small problem. Her key wouldn’t fit in the ignition. A quick glance around the interior confirmed that she was in the wrong car! Her vehicle was parked four spaces away in the same aisle of the parking lot.
     She loaded her bags into her own car and drove to the police station to confess what she had done. When she told the story to the sergeant, he couldn’t control his laughter. He just pointed to the other end of the counter where four very shaken men were reporting a carjacking by a mad, elderly white woman.
The woman apologized, and no charges were filed.

     While we may have not pulled a gun on someone, if we are honest, we have probably misjudged a person or situation at some point in our lives.

      Jesus said in Luke 6:37, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

     There is a difference between judging and being judgmental. The message here is of being judgmental  We are called to be discerning. That's judging. Our attitude towards others is an entirely different thing. Christians, unfortunately but at times rightfully so, have gotten a reputation for being judgmental. No one likes to have preconceived ideas thrust upon them based on their skin color, level of education, appearance, their home, or their accent. 

     As soon as our conscience feels superior, we have put a wall between God’s story and theirs. We must make up our mind to get on level ground and love them where they are. I have found that when I judge before I love, I have a difficult time ever getting to the "love" part. However, when I choose to love first, judgement never has an opportunity to rear its ugly head.