Self-righteous, judgmental, superiority complex, … these are some of the flawed perceptions we tend to unknowingly harbor when we climb up in the corporate and life “ladder”.
To hide our feelings and motives, we tend to say that we are just evaluating or analyzing the situations.
In today’s Our Daily Bread ,Luke 7:37-49,
That was what the Pharisee; Simon did when he saw the prostitute washing Jesus’ feet. Unknowing of his self-righteous feeling, he thought he was analyzing Jesus encounter with the woman and concluded that Jesus could not be a prophet. To be sure, Simon the Pharisee was not a good host for he did not welcome Jesus by having his servant to wash Jesus’ feet when he arrived. In those ancient days, the road was usually dusty and people wore sandals, it's a norm to get one’s feet washed when entering a house. But the woman did just that. And her intention was to seek forgiveness for her sins.
There is always this conflict when our point of view is different from others. I see the church as not growing, complacent, apathy. To me, that is analyzing, and I want to do something to change the situation. But to others, they see me as critical; there is no need to change. To some, I am like Simon the Pharisee. So, it is better to keep quiet and remain status quo in church thingy.
Stay and keep silence. OR leave quietly.
“The challenge is clear. Lulled into thinking how good we are, our love for Jesus wanes because we have forgotten that we too are among the ones “forgiven much.” And when that happens, ready or not, it’s time for a change! — Joe Stowell “
To hide our feelings and motives, we tend to say that we are just evaluating or analyzing the situations.
In today’s Our Daily Bread ,Luke 7:37-49,
That was what the Pharisee; Simon did when he saw the prostitute washing Jesus’ feet. Unknowing of his self-righteous feeling, he thought he was analyzing Jesus encounter with the woman and concluded that Jesus could not be a prophet. To be sure, Simon the Pharisee was not a good host for he did not welcome Jesus by having his servant to wash Jesus’ feet when he arrived. In those ancient days, the road was usually dusty and people wore sandals, it's a norm to get one’s feet washed when entering a house. But the woman did just that. And her intention was to seek forgiveness for her sins.
There is always this conflict when our point of view is different from others. I see the church as not growing, complacent, apathy. To me, that is analyzing, and I want to do something to change the situation. But to others, they see me as critical; there is no need to change. To some, I am like Simon the Pharisee. So, it is better to keep quiet and remain status quo in church thingy.
Stay and keep silence. OR leave quietly.
“The challenge is clear. Lulled into thinking how good we are, our love for Jesus wanes because we have forgotten that we too are among the ones “forgiven much.” And when that happens, ready or not, it’s time for a change! — Joe Stowell “
3 comments:
Hi Uncle Mark!
I personally thought about something similar before as well cause I rmb reading something in my devotion bout being judgmental quite some time ago.
So I wondered: Are we then never to have thoughts that "this person is being irresponsible because she didn't turn up for meeting" or "this person doesn't know the importance yet of doing daily devotion, means he/she's spiritually immature"? And if we have such thoughts, are we then deem to have judge and hence done something displeasing to God?
Hi Jai Lin,
Thanks for the comments and questions. There is this fine line between discerning and judgmental.
What you have thought about others irresponsibililty and immaturity would probably fall into discerning thought rather than judgmental if your thought/motive is not to make yourself more superior than others but for self awareness of right and wrong.
As one grow in Christ, he will see more of his own faults and others as well. Hence, he is able to discern those faults which others see it as normal.
The questions then is - to speak up (and do something) or just keep quiet (and remain status quo)! :)
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