Are you Judgmental?

John 7:24 "Don’t judge by appearances. Judge by what is right".

How many of us do this very thing? I was listening to my high schoolers and their friends discuss some things the other day and they started stereotyping people of color. I asked them what drew them to those conclusions. My oldest, who has Asperger's and no filters said, "Mom, it seems that all the people who have killed someone in Montgomery lately are black. it makes me scared to hang around black people." I then began listing some of our friends who are people of color(and who have not killed someone) and he began to realize that "not all black people" are killers. He made some assumptions about "everyone" of a certain culture based on (comparatively)a small amount of our Montgomery citizens. AND the media coverage. Now, I know the statistics and all but this needs to GO DEEPER for us as believers in Christ. To take a few people of ANY color and stereotype them/lump them into a category is JUST WRONG and very unbiblical.
            What can we as followers of Christ do about this IN MONTGOMERY?

1. PRAY PRAY PRAY about your own stereotypes. Ask the Lord to bring you into relationship with people who are different from you(in any way) Then, begin to get to know them and find out what is on the inside of that person.

Colossians 1:9 (ESV) "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding..."

2. LIVE LIVE LIVE in a way that goes beyond stereotype. Get all that gumption you have in you(the Jesus gumption because we cannot do this by ourselves) and decide to make a choice in living differently. Ask the Lord to help you stop making assumptions about any group of people. It is NOT biblical. We are ALL fallen, messed up, imperfect creatures who have it within our human nature to judge, to stereotype. LIVE beyond your natural desires.

Gal 5:24 (TEB) "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature, with all its passions and desires".

3. LOVE LOVE LOVE those who are you neighbor. Jesus treated every person with respect and love. Even when he was angry, he did so because he loved.

Leviticus 19:18 "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord".

Praying for Your Neighbor

This last week, we had a misunderstanding with our neighbor. It made me realize that we had not taken the time to get to introduce ourselves to them when they moved in. They did not "know" us and our family and misinterpreted our son's actions. It made me realize that part of my responsibility as a follower of Christ is to make sure I take initiative at reaching out to MY neighbors, not waiting for them to reach out to me. 

 Would you pray about that with me this next week? Do you know your neighbors? Have you ever gone and just introduced yourself to them when they are outside or going to work? Wonder what would happen if you took some time to get to know them a bit and reach out to them. 

It is very evident that my neighbors either do not know the Lord or are baby Christians...this conclusion is by the fruit of their actions. We have started praying for the opportunity for them to see Christ in the way we handle this disagreement, in our actions toward them in the future and for the opportunity to speak to them about Christ. Major wisdom is needed, no doubt, but we have Christ guiding and directing us.

What about you? Will you start praying for neighbors you don't know? Are you quick to judge their actions when you don't know their circumstances?

Think on this verse this week and pray for your neighbor!
 

"Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up".  Romans 15:2