It is always amazing to me that in our American Christian culture there are big sins and little sins. For instance, murder is way worse than a lie, but all sin is bad, isn't it? Matthew 7 says “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You
hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will
see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."
We seem to get so caught up in the blame game. Always pointing out the wrong that others are doing in some misguided way to make us feel less guilty about our own sin. Romans 3:23 says "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Although I am sure we don't see it as a way to feel less guilty. We think we are somehow helping others see the error of their way. I am not saying that we should never point out the sin of others. Just know that you are far from perfect and the person you my be trying to help may not see it as help. They may see it as hypocrisy and wonder how you, with your obvious faults, can think yourself righteous enough to criticize them.
Would it not be better to have a friendly conversation with a friend who seems to be struggling in a certain area. Say to the person " I know I have this area in my life I need to work on. I know I can't do it on my own. If there was an area in your life that you struggle with, then perhaps we can help each other out. Offering suggestion, being supportive, calling each other to task when we notice a slip up. All done with the idea not to judge but to support and help and guide. This way we can help our friend without condemning them and we can show our love by supporting them. They in turn can help us work on something that we need a little extra assistance on. There are no big sins or little sins, sin is just sin. It is all equally bad. But if we can support each other in love and put aside the inclination to judge, then might we gain a little extra support on those things we need to work on and help our fellow man out?
Just a small thought to start the New Year out with!
