The older I get, the more I realize and experience the sobering reality of Christians being critical to other believers and assuming the worst about them. I came across some quotes from Oswald Chambers, author of the classic My Utmost For His Highest, tonight that should convict us and pierce us to the heart:
It takes God a long time to get us out of the way of thinking that unless everyone sees as we do, they must be wrong.
The average Christian is the most penetratingly critical individual, there is nothing of the likeness of Jesus Christ about him. A critical [spirit] is a contradiction to all our Lord’s teaching. Jesus says of criticism, ‘Apply it to yourself, never to anyone else.’ ‘Why does thou judge thy brother?’”
Jesus says regarding judging, ‘Dont! Be uncritical in your temper, because in the spiritual domain you can accomplish nothing by criticism.’ One of the severest lessons to learn is to leave the cases we don’t understand to God.
I want a change of the heart. Who is with me?
I’m with you! Thanks for these quotes. That apply to our interactions with anyone – believer or non-believer. We are only responsible for our own walk with God. It’s not our job to judge or save the world. We’re here to learn to love. All of this easier said than done!