Jack-in-the-Box
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Jack-in-the-Box
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Benoni Bulletin--050807--"Jack-in-the-Box"JACK-IN-THE-BOXIn Texas there are fast-food outlets called "Jack-in-the-Box." I have not yet partaken of their humble faire. Do you drive up to their drive-in window and wind a handle and "wham!"-- suddenly a clown-garbed server springs out from behind closed doors sending you into peals of laughter before taking your order? That could be heralded as "fun and food." Reminds me of the cannibal who was eating a comedian and declared, "This tastes funny!" As a rule, babies love their "Jack-in-the Box." When they wind the handle for the first time and "Jack" comes bounding out unexpectedly, their little faces register surprise. Then surprise gives way to the little one's cackling laughter that is infectious to all observers. The late Princess Grace of Monaco was thought to be "stuck-up" by some of her friends. When they would see her in town on the opposite side of the street, she would never return their wave of greeting. When Princess Grace discovered their misconception of her, she was astounded. She explained that she was very myopic (nearsighted) and, in fact, couldn't see those folks clearly. To her they were just an unrecognizable blur! Her real problem was vanity. She didn't want to be seen in public wearing her glasses. Only a movie star would make a spectacle of herself like that! Before we're too critical of Princess Grace's friends as being unfair in their judgement, maybe we should admit that we are also quick to judge people without getting the facts. We might say that Jane Doe lives with a male friend, when in reality she is sharing an apartment with her brother. We might assume that Mrs. Black is divorced when she is actually a widow. We might speculate that George Idle is lazy and doesn't work when he's actually disabled or enjoying an early retirement. And then when Jack comes along, we put him in a Box as well! We decide right off the bat that Jack is this or that. We label him and into the box he goes. Without learning anymore about him, that is where he is likely to stay in our perception. All these are victims of judgemental people. "But isn't it wrong to judge people?" you say. After all, doesn't Matthew 7:1 say, "Judge not that ye be not judged?" Certainly, this is one of the most frequently quoted but misapplied verses in the Bible. Folks on the defensive about some antisocial act (sin) always manage to bring up that verse. Not only do they hide behind that verse, they might even express resentment at having their sinful misconduct pointed out to them. Typically, they'd rather cling to their ungodly conduct. They expect the sin to be excused and overlooked. They shift guilt onto the one who cares enough about them to correct them. They label them as being judgemental or self-righteous! Jesus is rebuking folks who are censorious and always seeking to attribute ulterior motives to other people when they have not discovered the facts of the case. If loved ones could not correct us when we stray for fear of being judgemental, many Biblical passages would be meaningless. See Galatians 6:1-3 and James 5:19-20 for example. John 7:24 brings balance into the situation. It states that we should judge other people "with a righteous judgment". Notice that the word "judgement" is qualified by the word preceding it, "righteous". We are not permitted to judge people any way we like. It means that one's judgement of another must be based on factual truth and scripture. Eli apologised to Hannah for judging her to be drunk when she was actually baring her soul before the Lord from an anguished heart (1 Samuel 1:12-18). All the accusations against Jesus by the Jews that lead to the Lord's crucifixion were patently false. In a moment of impartiality, Pilate recognized that (Luke 23:4,22). Paul was assumed to be an Egyptian and was about to be incarcerated and flogged when knowledge of his Roman citizenship turned the tables (Acts 21:37-39; 22:25-29). Actually we are obliged to turn a sinner from his sinful way, (Ezekiel 3:18-21). We aren't given a choice in the matter. If we are too cowardly or unconcerned to do this, God will hold us accountable for that sin as well. Therefore, we have no choice but to exercise righteous judgement. This means that in all cases, sin must be condemned so it can be corrected. Sometimes we have to give another person a little time and study until they are convicted of the sinfulness of their rebellion against God. We cut them some slack to allow them to come to terms with their ill-conceived actions. Not everyone has had the strong Christian upbringing that so many of us have had. Others might be fairly new Christians or still be "babes in Christ,"(1 Corinthians 3:1-2). So, be patient with the "new born." And while we are at it, let Jack in the Box out of the box so we can get to know one another better. As the saying goes, "To know him is to love him". "Dear friends, let us love one another for love is of God," (1 John 4:7). Love you all, |
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