Romans 2:1-4

"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things." (Rom. 2: 1)

This passage reminded me of a particular problem I've been struggling with.  Throughout high school, I've prided myself on being a relatively humble person (ironic, isn't it?).  I grew more and more wary of being arrogant -- a trait I saw in people inside my closest circle of relationships.  This trend continued into university.  Shortly after Pastor Paul discovered my joy of reading, he started giving me books to read.  One of them was "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis.  The one thing that stood out in the entire book was "How do you know you're prideful? You can't stand other prideful people."  BURN!  I re-examined myself, and discovered with horror that I am becoming the very person I didn't want to be.

This particular struggle isn't the main focus of my reflection, but in a way, it is.  The latter half of chapter 1 noted the cardinal sin -- neither glorifying God as God nor giving thanks to Him.  Why would anyone in their right mind do that?  Because they want to be God.  In Psalm 50, David compares himself and a "mighty man".  He opens by saying "Why do you boast of evil, you mighty man?  Why do you boast all day long?"  David lists several sins, but the chief one was that he didn't want to depend on God.  This mighty man wanted his strength to come from himself.

Does this sound familiar?  It's the popular story of Lucifer's fall.  He wanted to become God.  It was pride at work.

Why the long talk about pride, though?  Because pride is inherently judgmental.  It inherently sees the speck of dust in a neighbor's eye while ignoring the plank in one's own eye.  God gives a stern warning for this here:  "Do you think you will escape My judgment?  Do you show contempt for My kindness, tolerance, and patience?  Will you not be lead to repentance?" (Rom. 2: 3-4)

Christians, I think, have a greater danger to be judgmental (but v. 17-29 is probably a better place to discuss this).  It comes, in part, from our exclusive method of salvation.  In the past decades, we've also acquired a reputation of being Conservative, homophobic, anti-choice (notice I didn't use pro-life), among other traits. Exaggerated, no doubt, but it does give a glimpse of the danger.  I pray that we can be more like Jesus, who said, "if any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." and "Then neither do I condemn you." (John 8:7, 11)

Matthew