CLEARING OUR VISION

One of our perpetual temptations is that of judging others.

This is not the sole province of people of faith, but it does have a unique form within faith contexts. Jesus’ teaching addressed this a number of times, especially calling out the hypocrisy of many priests and leaders of His time (for example, see Matthew 23). While some of them were using religion merely for position and power, the more earnest were desperate for the approval of God and, drawing on Israel’s troubled history, were afraid that any wrongdoing or even minor failures to observe their many rules and regulations would open the nation to further occupation and dispossession. Either way, the priests and leaders were hypervigilant for the sins and failures of others, creating a social and religious environment of judgment and fear. As Jesus pointed out, this was not a blueprint for healthy faith or leadership: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?” (Luke 6:39). Jesus taught His followers, “Do not judge” (Luke 6:37), warning that the measure we use to judge will be the measure by which we will be judged. But this was not about discernment in order to sidestep God’s judgment. Rather than judging others, Jesus’ followers are to live with forgiveness and generosity.

Jesus urged all leaders to view themselves and others with these same attitudes. Rather than focusing on the specks in other lives, our first task should be healthy self-reflection. Being honest about our own wounds and failures means that we can seek the healing that Jesus offers. It means our faith is not driven by fear, either of God or of others.

This is the way of seeing clearly, which is the foundation for living, leading, and serving well.