Don't Put People In A Box

You may not know this, but I can struggle with judgmentalism. I don’t know why, nor do I like it. I can easily look down on others and I hate it. I have to work often to remind myself of how gracious God has been with me to save me, forgive me, love me. I am far more needy than I know. God has had to convict me over the years of this.

How it looks

After a period of time being in proximity with someone, we often know who they are. The good and the bad. For those of us who have an unresolved (or unknown) spirit of judgementalism within us, our default can be to put people into a box.

This can look like us bristling when we see someone who has historically been immature, try to be mature. Or it can look like our concerned thoughts as someone who seems “unworthy” pursues God in a new way and God uses them. Or it can look like us looking down on younger Christians who are still learning, sighing and saying “this new generation will never get it”.

The Pharisees did this. Anytime Jesus spent time with a “sinner” they would scoff. “Jesus, if you were really a prophet you would know who this type of person was and wouldn’t be with them”.

Essentially we put a ceiling over the persons growth and potential. We mark a line in the sand and say: “You can never go across this because of who I know you to be.” In reality, we know very little of others and how God is working in their lives. Who are we to place them in a box?

People change. Don't put them in a box. Help them grow. Here are three thoughts:

1- People change.

Have you always been at the level of maturity, education, or place in life that you are? No. It took time. You have made mistakes, we all have. Be very careful you don’t judge someone with a criteria that you would not want your own life to be judged by.

Do you believe in the Gospel? Do you believe in the power of God? Do you believe that God only chooses winners? Already successful people? Well polished people? Mature people? Read Jesus’ genealogy, it came through the lives of messed up people. Look at the disciples He choose, not religious leaders or high status citizens. Common, uneducated, rough around the edges people.

You are far more helpless than you realize and the “growth” in your life is far more owing to God’s grace and gifts than you realize if you think God can only work in people like you.

2- Placing a ceiling on who someone could potentially be places you in a place of superiority.

God can change people. When you put people in a box and never allow them to grow. You act as a gatekeeper to who God can work in and through.

3- Jesus did not do this.

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

— Matthew 9:10-13

May the lord work in all of our hearts. He may be working in the most uncommon of person to reveal His glory and convict your pride. Let us not be like the Pharisees. Let us, in humility, let our pride go and understand we are all needy and helpless and on even ground.

If you want to understand how deeply you believe and treasure the biblical gospel look at how you view God’s work in people who seem “beneath” you.

If God can use us, He could use anyone.

Humbled,

Josh.