.jpg)
Out To Pastor
One thing that irritates me is people talking behind my back. I want to be part of the conversation because I know more about me than they do. Or at least I think I do While in the mall recently, I passed two people, and I heard one say, “Doesn’t he look stupid?”
I have found out that when I hear something, I usually don’t hear the whole story. If I don’t hear the whole story, I’m going to get it wrong, and if I react, I certainly will look stupid. Why do I care if someone I don’t know thinks I look stupid?
If The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage says I look stupid, that is a completely different scenario. I need to get the information she has so I can change whatever I need to change so I don’t look stupid in her eyes. Really, her opinion the only one that really matters to me.
How often have I made a mistake judging someone by their outward appearance? I’ve gotten into a lot of trouble down the years doing that. I don’t need to judge people. Whatever people are wearing and how they look is none of my business whatsoever. And I’ll keep my thoughts to myself. At least I will try.
As a daily discipline, I strive not to judge people before I really get to know them. After getting to know some people, you find out they’re not really what they first appear to be. They’re not as stupid as they look nor as smart as they look.
While in the mall, I passed several people with tattoos all over their body. Tattoos, ear piercings, nose piercings, and even one had a tongue piercing. I have no idea what these things are called or why anybody would want to do that.
Never in the morning have I gotten up, gone to my bathroom, looked in the mirror and said to myself, “You need to get some tattoos today.” I’m not even sure my mirror would allow me to do that.
I work very hard at not judging people. Sometimes, it’s hard, but I work at it all the more. If somebody wants to look the way they look, who am I to tell them it’s wrong?
Judging somebody by his or her outside appearance really challenges decency. I’ve counseled many people over the years and learned one thing: most of them do not want to hear the truth. They want me to tell them what they want to hear.
That’s the kind of world we live in today. Nobody wants to hear the truth or tell the truth, and everybody is completely happy with that. Well, I’m not.
So, if you think I look stupid, don’t say it out loud; just whisper it, and let’s keep it between the two of us. Then, I won’t tell people what I think about you.
Thinking about this I was reminded what Jesus said. “Judge not according to the appearance but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24).
Jesus did not judge according to appearance. It’s not how we look, but how we act that is the defining factor. So, instead of concentrating on my outside, I need to focus on my inside, that is my relationship with Christ. That is how God will judge me in the final day.
