“Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. You’ll receive the same judgment you give. Whatever you deal out will be dealt out to you. Why do you see the splinter that’s in your brother’s or sister’s eye, but don’t notice the log in your own eye? – Matthew 7:1-3

One thought that occurred to me this week in response to the C.S. Lewis study I’m facilitating is that A) we tend to oversimplify the idea of God in order to fit philosophical frameworks we can imagine – or manage, and that B) we tend to overcomplicate the idea of God in order to fit into doctrinal frameworks we can control.

This has been especially apparent to me as I read/listen to so much (far too much) in the way of self-righteous and over-the-top judgy commentary about “other” Christians and why they are so wrong!

Let’s go back to C.S. Lewis and his astute observation that the very fact that one person believes they are “more right” than others demonstrates that what is “really right” is neither of them, but a rightness that stands outside all of us so we necessarily miss the mark.

In other words, we all get it wrong, and the standard against which we measure “rightness” cannot be any one of us! And if somebody does hold themselves and their judgments up as “The” standard against which all others should be be measured then, how should we say? “Bless their heart…”

Obviously there are clues and there is unparalleled wisdom in the Bible (the written word) – most especially what it teaches us about Jesus (the Living Word). But it is us, flawed human beings interpreting the scriptures, who consistently miss the mark, and we know this because they…we… are not God!

Besides, the fundamental point of the biblical narrative is God’s invitation, through Jesus, to enter into a reconciling relationship with God. Because of Jesus, we are redeemed. And, to quote Job, who understood the power of these words better than most, “I know that my Redeemer lives!”

So, as a counterpoint to all the judginess out there, I’d like to take this opportunity to invite anyone harboring delusions of doctrinal purity to stop pointing the finger at others and heed the words of Baptist preacher Tony Campolo: “It has been said, ‘Hate the sin, love the sinner.’ But I say, ‘Hate your own sin, love everyone.'”

This is my invitation, whoever we are. God has invited us home. Our Creator delivered the invitation through the perfect life and the resurrection power of Jesus. Come to him, follow him, trust in him. Jesus will sort out the details.

Grace, peace, mercy, love, promise, reconciliation, redemption and hope – DEREK