It has come to my attention, more than ever recently, that we all judge one another. We even judge each other for judging others. The obvious things in our society, of course, are clothing, tattoos, piercings, the cars we drive or don't drive. On and on it goes. Are we too fat? Are we too thin? Why are we fat? Why are we thin? Why do we pierce or tattoo? Why is that person so sensitive? Why is that person so insensitive?
But the thing is, we don't ask why. We don't ever think "hmmm... is there a story here? Has something happened in this person's life to cause them to filter life the way they do?" No. We just make a snap judgment about people and it sticks. They become, in a sense, marked .
Recently I was privy to a situation involving total strangers. I will try to make it short but include all the details needed for you to follow me there.
A young boy of 12 years old was riding his bike with friends in a parking lot around 10 in the evening. His bike was much too small for him as they often are these days. Well at some point it got away from him and bumped into a car. No scratches but the man driving the car became enraged. He appeared to be in his early to mid 60's. The man leapt from his car and proceeded to grab the boy by his shirt and slap him violently across the face.
Two older teen boys,who had seen what was happening, ran to the aid of the young boy. At the same time a young man in his 20's called the police having also seen the altercation. He then became angry when the officer on the phone kept insisting he had been drinking. The older man got back in his car and it was assumed he was leaving the scene. He was simply reparking.
At this point the parents of the teens that stopped the fight came onto the scene and tried to calm everyone down. Making sure of course that the police had been notified.
The young man in his 20's was covered in tattoos and did look as if he had been drinking. Such was his outrage at the situation he may have beaten the older man himself for what he had done if the police hadn't arrived. He walked away from the older man's car disgusted and exclaimed sarcastically "Oh look he has a cross on his car. Nice! What a jerk!"
One of the mother's walked over to look and was saddened by the Christian bumper sticker that at this moment was NOT a testimonial of a loving God. She returned to the tatoo covered young man and said "Please don't judge Christ by what just happened and the sticker on his window. We are Christians and we stopped to help. Remember that please."
At that moment it was very easy to be angry at the man who lost his temper. How dare he hit that child? Any child! Let alone a total strangers child! What an idiot! What a creep What a horrible witness! Take that sticker of your car if you are going to be so hateful!!! On and on the thoughts might go. And did. But suddenly a thought struck one of the mother's...we don't know his story.
He could have lost his job today. Or worse, his wife may have died recently. Or who knows? Some grace thrown in that direction was also in order. Even as the 12 year old child stood off to the side crying and in shock, being comforted by one of the mom's, the man paced near his car. What was he thinking? No excuses for his behavior but at least some understanding maybe.
How many of us on any given day lose our tempers. Would we want an audience or a camera following us? I wouldn't. That's for sure. But that night to me was a huge reminder of so many things. Do not judge, love one another, stand up for injustice, be an example and so much more...
We carry the name of Christ wherever we go if we are believers. With that comes a lot of responsibility. We need to remember that. As far as judging one another. Shame on us. All of us do it. In big and small ways. May we be found loving and encouraging others far more than judging and criticizing. We must ask ourselves if we are the only Jesus someone ever sees what do we want them to see...
What will be the lasting memory of THAT night?
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