Monday 01 March 2010

Background

The world in which we live can often appear to be full ofjudgement and condemnation. From reality TV, where performances aresubject to verbal dissection, to the press's microscopicexamination of the lives of people who are in the public eye we aresurrounded by a never-ending stream of opinion and criticism ofothers. Head onto the internet and you find a world where everyoneis entitled not only to hold an opinion on anything and everythingbut also to proclaim it to the world.

Sometimes, too, the Church and its spokespeople can seem to bejudging and condemning others, whether for their sexual behaviour,their lack of faith or their life choices. Where does this fit withJesus' words here in the 'Sermon on the Plain' (Luke's equivalentof Matthew's 'Sermon on the Mount' - Matthew 5-7)? Can the Church stand up for whatit believes to be right without at the same time being judgementalof others?

Jesus is not against challenging behaviour he sees to be wrong, aswhen he turns the salespeople out of the Temple (Luke19:45-46). But how is this different to the judgement andcondemnation he here tells us we should avoid? Righteouscondemnation of that which is wrong in God's eyes is presumablydifferent to judging people on the basis of their clothing orlifestyle choices, but even righteous condemnation must have themercy Jesus tells us to show to others placed at its centre.

To Ponder

What is the difference, if any, betweenchallenging someone's behaviour and judging them for it?

How can you change your life so that you showmore of God's mercy to others?