It seems so pervasive in our culture. We see it everywhere and in a variety of forms and degrees. We read about it in the newspaper and hear the reports on television. Bullying is a growing problem in educational institutions from kindergarten to graduate school. People are harassed by their neighbors or coworkers. Politicians accuse their opponents of selfish motives and belittle their ideas and proposals. People of faith threaten to destroy the sacred writings of others. Even Christians find fault with one another and separate themselves.
The judgmental spirit is alive and well, not only in the land, but also in our hearts. Usually behind our judgments of other people is a value about how people are to be and behave. When someone doesn’t fit into our value system, we judge them as inferior. We may talk to others about them, distance ourselves from them, try to change them, or seek to get rid of them.
How did we come to this?
Tomorrow: It begins
Today we remember Hans Nielsen Hauge, renewer of the church (1824). This message was adapted from “Judge Not” written by E. Louise Williams that first appeared in the March 2011 issue of Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather) magazine.
Today is Psalm Sunday: The readings for today are: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1–15:47; Mark 15:1-39 [40-47]