Justifiably Judgemental

Something I struggle with is justifying the judgemental attitude I have towards others who are not holding themselves to the “standards” that I am holding myself to. I become self righteous in my view of friends that have seemingly left the faith of their youth. Friends that I truly do not where they stand with God, and instead of asking I simply pass judgement and assume they have turned their backs on God. Even though I am on a journey, I often feel like no one else is. Everyone else is where they are to end up. My journey has been plagued with constant doubt and constant failures, but not anyone else’s. The people around me are not allowed to spit in God’s face even though I do it just as often, maybe not for the world to see, but I do.

Living in a city where everyone is comparing themselves to the person next to them, has taken its toll on my personal life. I forgot that even though I am called to the people, I cannot compare myself or my journey to theirs. The only comparison is to God and His Word. It is hard as someone called to lead Hid people to not want them all to be where I am with God, but our responsibility is only to point them to Christ and let Him do the work in them. Again “He who has started a work in you is faithful to complete it.” The Holy Spirit must be able to work in the lives of believers. Too often we think it’s the person who the Holy Spirit is trying to work in that hold The Spirit back, maybe it’s the leaders around that person. If you are truly sensitive to the Holy Spirit you will know when to stop pushing someone and just let God soften their heart. As a leader you are not the race runners legs you are the coach. You are not their heart you are that voice that encourages them to dig deeper.

The thought that has been driving me this week has been the following. Your calling does not justify judgement. As a person called to leadership, you must remember to count the cost of accepting that call of God. Leading God’s people will cost you rights and freedoms that others will not have to give up. Christ will give you the strength to accomplish the things He has called you to achieve, but rest in that comfort. We must stop thinking we are elite and some how above the rest of the Church and able to judge others based on the fact that God has called us to lead them.

All this to say, remain teachable. There are still mysteries. It is this fact that should push us to deepen our relationship with Christ.