Judged

 

Have you ever been judged? Have you ever had had a pastor, or a Christian, a neighbor or a friend say something so damaging to you that for years you carried that wound? Maybe you’re not even over it yet?

Over the years I’ve talked to countless numbers of people who’ve been hurt by other Christians because they’ve feel like they’ve been judged. And, to be perfectly honest, it’s not just other Christians - I can think of a number of people that I have hurt personally. People that I have labeled and judged inappropriately. 

At Gateway we are in a summer-long series - journeying through the Gospel of Mark. One of the amazing things you begin to notice about Jesus is he was always hanging around the wrong kinds of people (Mark 2:13-17).

Social outcasts.
Notorious sinners.
Prostitutes
Traitors. 

In fact, the more unsavory the characters, the more at ease they seemed to feel around Jesus. In contrast, Jesus was badmouthed, betrayed and ultimately crucified by the more respectable types. 

How did Jesus, the only perfect person in history manage to attract the notoriously imperfect? And why is it that the down-and-out who flocked to Jesus when he lived on earth no longer feel welcomed by his followers today? What happened to reverse the pattern of Jesus? Why don’t 'sinners' like being around us? 

I talk to people all of the time who have absolutely no interest in stepping foot in a church because of the pain they experienced there as a child, the way they were shunned after a painful divorce, or the way they were labeled. 

For a while the church worked hard to follow Jesus’ example, and as a result the early Christians were renowned within the Roman Empire for their support of the poor and the suffering. But with the rise of Augustine, that all began to change. The church became a part of the wealthy establishment. The church was now in a position to look down on those who they were called to rescue.

There is an old saying, “The church would be a perfect place if there weren’t any people in it.”

This is so true. 
We are the problem.
It’s not God. 
It’s not Jesus. 
It’s us.

But the truth is we are also the solution.

Jesus established his Church as the solution to a hurting world that often feels condemned and judged and kicked when they’re down. We are called help them up. We are called to hold our hands against the wounds of a broken world, to stop the bleeding.

So how do we get started?

1. Recognize the true power of the Gospel - In religion you believe that you have a connection with God because of your right belief and right living. Therefore you have to feel superior to those whose beliefs or behavior differ. But if you understand the gospel, you understand that you are a sinner saved by sheer grace. You weren’t saved by your right beliefs or right behavior. In fact, Jesus died on the cross for you when you were still a sinner, so it’s impossible for you to look down upon those whose beliefs differ. 

2. View the world with grace-healed eyes: Jesus was consistently putting into practice the great reversal he spoke of at the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7). Normally in this world we look up to the rich, the beautiful, the successful. But free grace introduces a new logic. We begin to view the world as Ireneaus said, with “grace-healed eyes.” Because God loves the poor, the suffering, the persecuted… so should we. Because God sees no undesirables, neither should we.

3. Apologize Sincerely: Sometimes we will just need to apologize for what we represent. Many people have been offended or hurt by what they perceive Christianity to be. We need to stand in the place of “Christianity” and apologize whenever necessary. "I’m sorry we didn’t live up to the teachings of Jesus in our own lives."

4. Love Boldly: “We are only asked to love, to offer hope to the many hopeless. We don't get to choose all the endings, but we are asked to play the rescuers. We won't solve all mysteries and our hearts will certainly break in such a vulnerable life, but it is the best way. We were made to be lovers bold in broken places, pouring ourselves out again and again until we're called home.” - Jamie Tworkowski

Comments

[Paul Asjes]

I love that... I want to see people with grace-healed eyes. I have been forgiven much, and love much because of that. I long to love boldly in broken places, pouring out all that I am again and again until I'm called home.

Have always been so encouraged and challenged by your blog.