Attitude

In all areas of life, we have choices - at least that's what I've always been told.  Our attitude is foundational to the choices we make.

Many times I have found myself speculating, assuming and yes, even judging people unfairly.  I wonder what causes this behavior.  I dislike this part of myself.  Do I have a choice in how I view others?

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I know what I ought and ought not to do.  Yet my default is often exactly the opposite of what my head knows.  How do I change my default position?  An 'about face' is necessary when judgmental self-righteousness rears its ugly head.

It's easy to let our thoughts roam wherever they may - to make hasty assumptions without knowing the truth about people.  We look and listen carelessly, leaping to conclusions. Our own history often frames our opinions of others.

Many would argue that our thoughts, kept private, are harmless, and that they're also uncontrollable.  But in describing the reasoning of a spiritual versus a non-spiritual person, Paul says in 1 Cor 2:16, "we have the mind of Christ." Having the 'mind of Christ' means submitting our own thoughts to His Spirit within us.

We look with our eyes, physically; but spiritually, we see with Christ's eyes.  We hear with our own ears physically; but spiritually, we hear with Christ's ears.  We make judgements with our own minds, but discern all things by Christ's thinking - that is, the Spirit who lives in us and gives us guidance.  But we need to be open to the leading of the Spirit.

Just as we control our physical bodies by discipline (how we move, what we put into our bodies), so we allow the Spirit to take control of our minds by what we take in and how we journey through our spiritual disciplines.

A few verses earlier, in 1 Cor 2:14,15 Paul says "¹⁴ But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. ¹⁵ Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others."

Does this last verse sound a little arrogant?  It almost makes the 'spiritual' person sound untouchable.  On closer study, however, note that the spiritual person can evaluate all things.  We can evaluate what is right or wrong, we can even confront people with the truths that are relevant to their situation.  But we are not to judge people.  Even Christ showed mercy to the outcasts of society - prostitutes, cheaters, adulterers, thieves.  He told them the truth about themselves, forgave their sin, and told them to stop sinning.  The only people Christ judged were the arrogant and self-righteous.

We, just like the marginalized in Jesus' day, need to know about ourselves so we, too, can stop sinning - so we won't fall into the trap of self-righteousness.  When we're honest about our own journey, about who we are and about the grace we've been given, we will evaluate all things using the mind of Christ, whose grace knows no limits.  And we will love people.  

Easy? Not a bit.  Messy? You bet!  Rewarding?  Absolutely!