This is a little tongue and cheek – but it also rings sadly true.
I have searched the scriptures over and over and over again…
I have seriously “Googled” – late into the night.
My findings are astounding…and are worthy of some kind of a thesis.
I know that speaking for myself, I have never preached on this particular topic or subject before…although some of it may sound a little bit familiar.
So, I am entering into some unchartered waters…here…
According to our gospel text for today Christians are to have compassionate attitudes towards those “who are not” followers of the Christ.
I think, that would also suggest that we are to have a compassionate attitude towards those “who ARE” followers of Christ – as well.
Compassion…we are to be compassionate (period!)
The scriptures speak often of Jesus as having compassion for people…
And the Greek word for compassion refers to deep, emotional feelings located in the “bowels” of one’s humanity.
Jesus was consistently described as being compassionate – but THE word -“THAT word” is never used for the crowds.
So, apparently the crowds are anything but compassionate…toward one another.
Jesus was moved to compassion when he saw the crowds of people who were like sheep without a shepherd.
He was moved to compassion when he saw the blind.
He was moved again by compassion when constantly being confronted with the sick and the lame…on all sides of him.
The scriptures say that Jesus showed compassion toward those that were gripped by demons.
He was further compassionate when he witnessed the mother at Nain – who’s only son had just died…and was even now being buried.
And finally when Jesus looked out and saw about 4,000 people who were obviously tired and hungry, he had compassion on them…
All the way down to the very pit of his being … he felt great empathy toward others…
There is no judgment here…
There is no finger pointing…
If, we are to be followers of the rabbi from Galilee, then those who bear his name are not to be “petty-fault-finders” nor are we to be “carpers of criticism.”
It is so easy to allow our judgment to become clouded. It is so easy to become hypercritical of others.
Harsh judgments can so freely flow off the tongue.
We often times judge harshly and mercilessly.
When outsiders view the church – they see us as being “the ones who pass judgment on others. We are the ones who make “snap judgments” and prefer to “sit in judgment.”
The church and its members are seen as being the ones who “judge others too quickly” and “too critically.”
The church sometimes is seen as “rejecting others” and being “uncharitable and unforgiving.”
Jesus I am sure would be aghast.
No matter “where I go, no matter” “what I read,” no matter “how much I Google…I just cannot find the verses that say we are to judge others…
Time and time again, I read about loving others, indeed loving ALL others. I read about turning the other cheek, going the extra mile and loving our enemies.
But I cannot find the allusive verses that tell us that we are the judges of our brothers and our sisters, whether they be in the faith, or outside of the faith…
I tell you, I searched.
I read between the lines.
I cannot find the references.
The masses of the people according to the scriptures are aimless and like helpless sheep who are in need of a loving and guiding caretaker.
Our role – our job is to help them…not to judge them. Our role is to be compassionate toward them, even as Jesus was compassionate.
The Scripture says we are to feed and clothe them we are to help and care for them.
But no where I have I read – that we are to judge them.
I tell you it is just not there.
That job – belongs to God alone!