Last night Bev and I got around to watching the first episode of "American Idol." Having a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) is great. We watch what we want, when we want to, and zip through the commercial breaks. What an invention. Anyway, as we watched I saw, with new eyes, the contempt for persons that is so prevalent in our world. Admittedly some of the performers were totally without talent, amazingly self-deceived about their chances at becoming a national star. They warbled and wavered through horrible renditions of popular songs. Simon and company, in most cases, were not kind and gentle in making the contestants aware of their shortcomings! Those poor souls (yes, I know they knew what they were getting into) were devastated, broken by sarcasm and mockery. I found myself asking, why do we watch people treating those who are less fortunate with such contempt?
That thought triggered a time of reflection in my mind about times and places I have failed to show others the respect that God desires.
It happens quickly, easily! Words that mock another's weakness, that spread the story of another's dumb mistake, come quickly to our lips and we speak them - somehow feeling empowered even as we diminish the worth of others. Who needs to deal with the complex relationship of getting know people who are different if we just dismiss them with some demeaning remark? For example, many Americans find it hard to understand the world of Islam, so they just lump Muslims all into one group - 'terrorist' and make them the object of their hatred. It's done with politics. How convenient to throw all those who have a differing opinion about public policy into a big group labeled with a name like 'Looney Left,' or 'Religious Right!' Some men do it to their wives. Instead of interacting with them as the truly different and sometimes puzzling people they can be, they make jokes about women - jokes with a barb and a dose of contempt. I suppose women do it, too. Contempt takes away the personhood of another and makes it so much easier to avoid contact -yes, even to hate!
Jesus calls us to live without contempt! Even our criticism of others that is justified, is to be offered with the hope of correction, not the desire of destruction. The Lord wants to give us a new way of relating - taking away the 'us versus them,' that fills the world around us, replacing it with a true sense of community and connectedness. What a difference it would make in our tone, our words, our thoughts if we considered everyone around us a brother or sister. Right now you can treat me with contempt by thinking, "Jerry must be having an emotional crisis. Poor sap!" If you do that, you won't have to consider the challenge of loving others who are hard to relate to - the broken, bitter, and battered people that society has kicked off the curb!
But aren't some people deserving of contempt because of their actions?
Read this story from Jesus' life and then answer that question.
"Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?” “No one, Master.” “Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.” (John 8:1-11, The Message)
Neither do I condemn you!
God give us eyes to see the true need in others, give us love that is willing to engage with the difficult, the broken, the ugly, the needy. As you have loved us and made us your 'treasure,' may we take that love to others, giving them a gift of dignity, respect - for Jesus sake. Amen.
___________________________
Sometimes it's hard for me to understand
Why we pull away from each other so easily,
Even though we're all walking the same road.
Yet we build dividing walls
Between our brothers and ourselves.
The day will come when we will be as one,
And with a mighty voice together,
We'll all proclaim
That Jesus, Jesus Christ is King.
It will echo through the earth;
It will shake the nations,
And the world will see,
See that-
You're my brother, you're my sister,
So take me by the hand.
Together we will work until He comes.
There's no foe that can defeat us
When we're walking side by side.
As long as there is love,
We will stand.
We Will Stand
Taff, Russ / Taff, Tori / Hollihan, James
© 1983 Word Music, Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) CCLI License No. 810055
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