Hands

From an outsider point of view, many Christians are seen as judgemental hypocrites.  Sadly, in many cases this is true.  Even worse, I fall into the category from time-to-time myself. 

It is easy to be on the 'outside looking in' in many situations.  You can look at a mom in Walmart screaming at her kid to behave and think, "Whoa, chill out woman.  Seriously, who screams at their kids like that?"  It is easy to think this because you have no idea what was going on to make the mom so upset.  Maybe the child had done the same thing for the 20th time that day.  Maybe she and her husband had an argument that morning.  Maybe said child was up at 2 am and 4 am the night before and mom was exhausted.

Iti s also easy to think those thoughts and then find yourself screaming at your own child an hour later at home.  Why is it any better to do it at home?  What were your excuses for making it ok?  Guilty. 

Yes, you heard me right. I'm guilty of all the above.  I have thought those thoughts of a mom at Walmart.  I have also screamed at my kids.  It isn't something I do often (by the grace of God) or something I am proud of.  But I have been there and done that.  So who am I to judge?

But I digress, yelling at children is a whole other post entirely.

This is about our place as Christians.  John tells us in 5:16 that if we see a Christian sinning, we should pray and God will give them life.  Not that we should stop them.  Not that we should give them our opinion.  Not that we should haughtiliy demonstrate our superior behaviors.  We should pray.

The world gets the judgemental-hypocrite version of Christians far too often becuase we are too quick to put into practice the first part of Galatians 6:1 "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him" and too quick to forget the end of it "in a spirit of gentleness"  as well as Matthew 7:1-2 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." and I really love Proverbs 18:2 "A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion."

As Christians we are family.  Brothers and Sisters in Christ.  And, like most earthly families, every member has his/her own personality, interestes and roads to take in life.  At some point in life's journey we all go astray.  Some are long excursions others just small detours.  But whether it is far away from Christ or just a slight turn doesn't matter at all to Him.  We must all confess that sin, no matter the size.  Then, once it is confessed, it is forgiven and the magnitude no longer matters.

It is our job to love, to encourage and to be His hands and feet to the world and to our fellow believers.  We need to use those hands in a folded position rather than a pointing one.