What Jesus said about ... (series)

 

What Jesus said about ... judging others.

Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you in the same way as you judge others, and He will apply to you the same rules you apply to others. Matthew 7: 1-2

Let's be honest now, we all judge others. Even if we do it silently in our mind and say nothing; we are still judging others and probably jumping to the wrong conclusions. We are all prejudiced no matter how hard we deny it. We are prejudiced against peoples' looks, clothing, backgrounds, religion, race, education, tattoos, age, and so many other reasons why we don't like some people who do not fit the "perfect" image of what we have in mind or expect of them.

Let me tell you a story. I once visited an old lady at home who was not well. She was expecting the doctor to call at home. When I opened the door there stood a young man of about thirty in T shirt and blue jeans. So I put my judge's wig/hat on and thought, "What the **** This guy is so young he is hardly out of diapers. What does he know about medicine aside from soothing his teething problems? And he's in jeans and T shirt; very modern I must say!" I said nothing and showed him in to his patient.

A week later I took her to the doctor's surgery. I learnt that he was a new doctor at the practice, and on that day he was on leave and had been phoned at home to attend at the lady's house urgently, because her doctor had been detained with another patient.  

I noticed he was wearing a suit. Also, he had aged by a week. So you see, I am not prejudiced or judgemental at all.

Are you?

Judgmental ?

I had reason to take someone to hospital. The waiting room was empty so we sat there reading some old magazines.

(Why are magazines always old at the doctor’s and dentist? The one I read announced the sinking of a ship called Titanic. But I digress).

A few minutes later a man in his thirties came in. He was dressed in scruffy jeans, T shirt and coat. He had long stringy hair and a beard. He sat there mumbling to himself. He looked a bit like a hobo.

A few moments longer and another man came in. He too looked untidy. As soon as he entered the waiting room the first man asked him: “Have you got a smoke?”

The second man handed him a pouch of tobacco and the first man proceeded to roll himself a cigarette – which thankfully he did not light up.

A little while more and a couple came in – a man and a woman. They too looked … not too well in the sartorial department. They cheerfully greeted the others in loud voices: “You’re looking good … your cheeks are rosy … not pale like the last time”.

Others kept coming in … men and women. All looked similar in that some were un-shaven (the men of course), all looked poor and unfed, and all spoke loudly with each other.

“Good Heavens, everyone’s here today …” “How are you doing me old mucker?” and so on and so forth with plenty of fruity expletive bad language to boot.

In conversation one of them pulled out a book entitled “Alcoholic’s Anonymous” and it didn’t take long from their conversations to establish that they were all here together for a regular check-up. One proudly announced that she hadn’t touched a drop for 18 days whilst the others congratulated her for her efforts.

By then I noticed that the other “normal” patients (whatever that means) who had arrived since, congregated at the other side of the large waiting room. Some stood by the door, some waited outside in the corridor, but none said anything about this motley lot speaking loudly. It was obvious that they were being judgmental by their looks and their haughty silence.

I must admit in shame that when they first arrived in the room, I too felt a little uncomfortable and intimidated by their presence. They were not violent. Just loud, unkempt and in some cases obviously sleeping rough. One complained that last night was particularly freezing and he slept wearing his overcoat whilst tucked into the sleeping bag he was carrying with him.

This set me thinking.

Jesus must have met quite a number of people like them in His time. The poor, destitute, down and outs, the sick and the lame. Lepers even. These people were shunned and ignored by society in general.

But how did Jesus react? Unlike me, He was not uncomfortable and intimidated by them. Whether He met them singly or ten lepers at a time.

He reacted with love, pity and compassion. And in most cases He healed them and returned them to a better life.

Years later, Father Damien De Veuster followed Christ’s example and went to help the lepers of Molokai.

Mother Theresa dedicated her life to the poor of Calcutta.

I’m sure you can name others who also did similar charitable works instead of feeling threatened, intimidated and uncomfortable.

As I was!