"is there something in my eye??"

This afternoon I attended CityLife church in downtown Boston. The sermon was on judgment, utilizing Luke 6:37-42 about pointing out a speck in your brother's eye and not noticing the log that is in your own. Of course, I've heard this passage discussed many times before but I truly appreciated Rev. Dr. Um's complete, and unapologetic, exploration of it.

He acknowledged that Jesus is not saying that all assessment of others is inherently "wrong." If that were so, the valid and appropriate assessments done by parents of children, teachers of students, and employers of employees would be wrong...and then where would the world be? Rev. Dr. Um also pointed out that we know Jesus is okay with assessment (aka judgment done in love) because otherwise his direction in the Luke 6 parable would itself be hypocritical and self-negating.

Of course, the heart of the passage tells us that we must get rid of our own "imperious self-righteousness" and choose only to "assess" others when we are able to do so in love. Our hearts have a sneaky way of twisting judgment into a virtue, Rev. Dr. Um said, as we convince ourselves that we're helping others when we correct them; when in fact, we are only granting ourselves a greater sense of superiority and actually condemning ourselves in the process. With a chuckle, he pointed out that in becoming less judgmental, we also help ourselves to become more humble, more patient...and less cranky.

Obviously, there was much much more substance to his sermon today than what my measly notes are providing, but here's the very essence of his message: Since every single human being who has ever lived, is living, and will live has a sinful nature, the Lord--who is perfect and completely separate from sin--had every right to say to each of us: "Depart from me." But by grace and mercy, he reversed the sentence and took our punishment, instead. As recipients of this amazing love and unwarranted act, we, too, must be infinitely gracious and charitable of others and, instead, be hypercritical of our own hearts and motivations.

say cheese,
katy