2 Corinthians 5:16 (NLT), “So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we though of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!”
This scripture verse speaks to me so much when I think about our world today. We all are so judgmental of one another and we evaluate each others actions based off our own view of the situation. It is so easy for us to say what someone should have done or should be doing in any given situation. You know how the phrase starts off, “If that was me, I would have….” Unfortunately, I know I’ve said this phrase many times myself. When we are only looking at things through our set of lenses it’s easy for us to pass judgment. We don’t take the time to try and walk in that other persons shoes or see the world through their set of lenses. We lose our compassion for others and judge them for the choices they have made in life.
Each one of us looks at the world through a different set of lenses. This set of lenses is built from many different things. Our life experiences and upbringing shapes the lenses we have. Our race and gender can also shape the lenses we have. Things like education level and economic status also contribute to the shape of our lenses. There are so many variables that make up the set of lenses we view the world through.
Our lenses also change over time. We never have one solid set of lenses we will always view the world through. As we go through life many of the variables I listed will change. We will have different life experiences, some positive and some negative, throughout our lives. Our education level will rise over time causing our lenses to change. Our experiences based on race and gender, again some positive and some negative, will change over the course of our lives. The lenses we have are forever changing. So with so many people with so many different lenses, that are also changing over time, how can we find peace and harmony.
First, let’s stop judging each other. These days we are so quick to lay down the hammer of judgment on someone. Many times we are laying this hammer down on those we care the most about. Take a look at our daily lives and see how many times we judge those around us, many times we are doing it unfairly. We have to remember those different lenses each of us has and how that shapes our decision making. Just because we wouldn’t do something a certain way doesn’t mean we pass judgment on those who do. We must remember the words in Luke 6:37 (NLT), “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.”
Second and most important, we have to love others. I don’t mean the temporary not real type of love used so many times today. But the love described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT), “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” When we can put the filter of “Love” on the lenses we have this will help bring us all together.
No matter our different life experiences, race, gender, economic status, etc. if we view each other through the filter of “Love” what a difference it can make. In our homes, when we put the filter of “Love” on then we don’t view the actions of our spouses or children in a judgmental way. At work, when we put the filter of “Love” on then those petty disagreements with our coworkers don’t seem as important.
Just because we each view the world through a different set of lenses does not mean we can’t live together in peace. It takes us understanding each other and to do that we have to add that filter of “Love” to each of our lenses. Today add that “Love’ filter to your lenses and see each other and the world a little differently.
Truth in Love! ~ Chuck