To Love One Another
September 6th, 2009
Tonight we talked a lot about what it means to love one another. Shane made the point that we often judge other people even before we know them. “Oh, this person’s a druggie. Stay away from them; they’re trouble!” “This person looks weird with piercings and tattoos; they must be violent!” We often form first impressions about people by how they look, act, or by what we’ve heard about them. These impressions may be right, but more often than not they’re wrong. To truly love one another, we first need to learn how not to judge. What are some ways that we judge others? How can we keep ourselves from doing so?
September 7th, 2009 at 9:55 am
John, Good post, yet again.
I think a way we can keep ourselves from judging is put ourselves in there shoes!!!
I think all of us have something inside we want to do (like a dream)or maybe have done (like a past sin)…and don’t tell anyone because we think they will judge us. Which, as of right now, is sadly true… Most of us, if a friend told us a sin, would form some kind of judgment…
I would just say to all of us, what if that was you? And, if that doesn’t work…do what Shane said, talk to them!
September 7th, 2009 at 10:48 am
definitely hard to have compassion on the “obnoxious sinners”–the mean girls, the pierced-up punk, prideful player, etc. Maybe you can work yourself up to tolerating the mild heathens, but the really troubled ones you’d rather not have anything to do with.. but if we don’t love them, who will? they’ll turn to the same answers that have always been there for ‘em, and got them in the place they are.
Something i struggle with for sure
September 7th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I certainly struggle with this a lot. I’ve discovered that I’m really judgmental about girls who wear a ton of makeup (working on changing that!). Actually, just a few minutes ago I was reflecting on certain times when I’ve judged people. There was this one guy who used to come to youth group that I hated. He always acted like he was so good and awesome. I think we all got to the point of being so fed up with him that we didn’t even really listen to him anymore. But what if that was the mask he put on when he was as school so that others would think highly of him? What if, instead of the egotistic boy that I saw, he was afraid of being looked down on, of not being loved? What if he was so broken and depressed already that when we told him to shut up it broke him more? I remember that eventually he learned to just be silent because if he opened his mouth someone would yell at him. He doesn’t come to youth group anymore, I’m sad to say. But through him God taught me many lessons that I’ll remember forever. It he ever chose to come back I’d try harder to kinder to him and realize that who he really is might not be the person he acts.
September 7th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Wow, that was loooong!
September 9th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
Taliah dont worrie i will start coming back to youth group
lol….but for real i feel what you are saying. To be honest this is not an area that i struggle to much in. I think that for a while people could not even put up with me becasue i was an annoying butt. But i think that because i had to get past somethings myself i have more love twords people that might seem funny or look a little crazy. But yet again there is never to much improvement. So i will challenge myself to step out farther in this area of accepting everyone for who they are.
September 10th, 2009 at 7:59 am
I gotta tell you, guys. This ain’t easy. I was really challenged by just BLOGGING about this. We judge so many people by how they act towards us. There’s this one guy in a class I have…he ALWAYS talks to me before and after — and even sometimes DURING — class. I’m telling you, this guy just won’t shut up. He monopolizes me to the point where other people can’t get a word in edgewise. I could be really annoyed by this guy and tell him to shove off…but that wouldn’t be very loving. Instead, I attempt to endure his constant chattering because I look at him and see ME a few years ago; he’s just trying as hard as he can to fit in. Relating someone’s behavior to your own at a certain point in your life is something that’s really helped me to be more…tolerant…of people.
September 10th, 2009 at 11:16 am
dude that is a GREAT picture for this post! what better example than elizabeth bennett and mr darcy! good job! (oh and I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’ve never seen that movie! I would never watch something so mushy!! *ahem*)
September 13th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
The pic for this is great
I have to say, some people really just get on my nerves. It’s crazy hard to try and love a person the way God does when you really just don’t get along. That’s what I’ve been working on for a while, and God has been really speaking to me about it…
I’m totally getting piercings and tattoos if that will make people change their concept of what’s “christian” and “acceptable”
September 17th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
Rach I’d pay money to see u with tattoos and piercings;) I agree with yall…i really struggle with that. Especially with really really girly girls. (Isaac i can’t believe u said mean girls…it makes it sound like ur afraid of women;))
September 20th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Isn’t Elizabeth really young and Mr. Darcy middle aged-ish? I kinda think thats wrong but if it works for them…
But anyway the teaching is something that we all should do and something we all probably dont do that often, I think that god was really speaking in the teaching.