| SpongeOsophy Essay Judgement and Hypocrisy Who are you better than? |
I am a Christian. I try so very hard to live by the words and examples of Jesus of
Nazareth. Every day I strive to be the type of man that Jesus was. Does that
make me better than non-Christians? No. If I were to say that my belief in Jesus
makes me better than you, I would go against what Jesus taught me. Jesus of
Nazareth was a simple, humble man. I try to keep that in mind every day.
Some of us are so very self-righteous about ourselves. So many wear their
Christianity like a suit, or a name tag. I assure you that “Christian Pride” is an
oxymoron. So many look at others who don’t share their beliefs and then thump
themselves on the chest saying how much better they are than a non-believer.
So many have the arrogance to think they have some right to judge other
people, even persecute them. This is a dangerous path. This kind of thinking
leads to things like the Crusades and Jihads.
I live by a very strict set of rules. They are mine and mine only. In our
household, they are the principles we live by. But, they are just that, ours. We
don’t expect others to live like we do. Oh, it would be nice if they did. But if the
world chooses to follow its own path, that is the gift of free will. I have no right to
make moral judgments about others. When I do, I sin-according to my own rules.
People have often said to me, “So, you think you are better than me?” My
answer is always the same. No. Frankly, I don’t care if I am better than you.
There is only one person that I want to be better than-the man I was
yesterday.
So many political issues these days are matters of morality: gay marriage, stem-
cell research, abortion, etc. I know where I stand on them. That being said, my
stance on those issues is a personal one, it works for me and me alone.
As an example, I have gotten assaulted from both sides for my stance on stem-
cell research. Many argue that embryonic stem-cell research could cure many
diseases and even save my own life. They have a point. However, many also
argue that once an egg is fertilized, be it in the womb or in a laboratory, there is
life there, with a soul and the same rights as any adult human. They have a
point as well. I have done a great deal of soul-searching on this. For me, I
believe that yes, the soul is there at conception. However, that is MY morality,
one that I do not have the right to force upon anyone. As a Christian and an
American, I have a duty to respect the beliefs of others. What about those who
don’t believe in a soul at all? Do I have the right to tell them they are wrong for
supporting embryonic stem-cell research? The answer is an absolute no. So
where do I stand? I will not support stem-cell research. At the same time, I will
not work to stop it from happening. Those who pursue such research will have
to answer for it themselves. But I can and do take the following stance: I will
NEVER have any treatment derived from such research, even if it saves my life.
I have had the opportunity to live many years, I don’t want an unborn child to be
denied that right just so that I can have a few more selfish years. At the same
time, I have no right to judge those who pursue the research and benefit from it.
That is their morality, I have mine.
When we as a society seek to force our morality on others through legislation,
we succumb to the same moral fervor that we see in other nations that makes us
shake our heads. We don’t understand why Muslims want to kill us “infidels” yet
at times we try to set up our own version of the taliban with our morally inspired
laws. Before we judge those nations, perhaps we need to look at our own.
Judging myself in comparison to the man I used to be is one of the tools of self-
improvement that I follow. It constantly keeps me on my toes and a watchful eye
in the mirror. There are many things I have done that I loathe myself for. Part of
my goal is to never do those things again. I want to be better than I was
yesterday.
To be a Christian means to strive to be Christ-like. Christ did not persecute
those who disagreed with Him. Rather, He was crucified by those who disagreed
with His teachings. For me, being a Christian means a constant journey of the
pursuit of Christ-likeness. When I am perfect and exactly as good as Christ
himself was, then maybe I will have the right to judge you. But when I look in the
mirror now I see no crown of thorns, only a man who has a long way to go. Once
I am perfect I will give you a call and razz you about all of your faults. Right now
it is taking too much of my time to judge myself. I don’t have the time or the right
to judge you. And when you are perfect, please give me a call and tell me how
wrong I am. For now, I am too busy trying to pull this plank of wood out of my
eye to see the dust in yours.
Be well,
Sponge
06/30/2005
Nazareth. Every day I strive to be the type of man that Jesus was. Does that
make me better than non-Christians? No. If I were to say that my belief in Jesus
makes me better than you, I would go against what Jesus taught me. Jesus of
Nazareth was a simple, humble man. I try to keep that in mind every day.
Some of us are so very self-righteous about ourselves. So many wear their
Christianity like a suit, or a name tag. I assure you that “Christian Pride” is an
oxymoron. So many look at others who don’t share their beliefs and then thump
themselves on the chest saying how much better they are than a non-believer.
So many have the arrogance to think they have some right to judge other
people, even persecute them. This is a dangerous path. This kind of thinking
leads to things like the Crusades and Jihads.
I live by a very strict set of rules. They are mine and mine only. In our
household, they are the principles we live by. But, they are just that, ours. We
don’t expect others to live like we do. Oh, it would be nice if they did. But if the
world chooses to follow its own path, that is the gift of free will. I have no right to
make moral judgments about others. When I do, I sin-according to my own rules.
People have often said to me, “So, you think you are better than me?” My
answer is always the same. No. Frankly, I don’t care if I am better than you.
There is only one person that I want to be better than-the man I was
yesterday.
So many political issues these days are matters of morality: gay marriage, stem-
cell research, abortion, etc. I know where I stand on them. That being said, my
stance on those issues is a personal one, it works for me and me alone.
As an example, I have gotten assaulted from both sides for my stance on stem-
cell research. Many argue that embryonic stem-cell research could cure many
diseases and even save my own life. They have a point. However, many also
argue that once an egg is fertilized, be it in the womb or in a laboratory, there is
life there, with a soul and the same rights as any adult human. They have a
point as well. I have done a great deal of soul-searching on this. For me, I
believe that yes, the soul is there at conception. However, that is MY morality,
one that I do not have the right to force upon anyone. As a Christian and an
American, I have a duty to respect the beliefs of others. What about those who
don’t believe in a soul at all? Do I have the right to tell them they are wrong for
supporting embryonic stem-cell research? The answer is an absolute no. So
where do I stand? I will not support stem-cell research. At the same time, I will
not work to stop it from happening. Those who pursue such research will have
to answer for it themselves. But I can and do take the following stance: I will
NEVER have any treatment derived from such research, even if it saves my life.
I have had the opportunity to live many years, I don’t want an unborn child to be
denied that right just so that I can have a few more selfish years. At the same
time, I have no right to judge those who pursue the research and benefit from it.
That is their morality, I have mine.
When we as a society seek to force our morality on others through legislation,
we succumb to the same moral fervor that we see in other nations that makes us
shake our heads. We don’t understand why Muslims want to kill us “infidels” yet
at times we try to set up our own version of the taliban with our morally inspired
laws. Before we judge those nations, perhaps we need to look at our own.
Judging myself in comparison to the man I used to be is one of the tools of self-
improvement that I follow. It constantly keeps me on my toes and a watchful eye
in the mirror. There are many things I have done that I loathe myself for. Part of
my goal is to never do those things again. I want to be better than I was
yesterday.
To be a Christian means to strive to be Christ-like. Christ did not persecute
those who disagreed with Him. Rather, He was crucified by those who disagreed
with His teachings. For me, being a Christian means a constant journey of the
pursuit of Christ-likeness. When I am perfect and exactly as good as Christ
himself was, then maybe I will have the right to judge you. But when I look in the
mirror now I see no crown of thorns, only a man who has a long way to go. Once
I am perfect I will give you a call and razz you about all of your faults. Right now
it is taking too much of my time to judge myself. I don’t have the time or the right
to judge you. And when you are perfect, please give me a call and tell me how
wrong I am. For now, I am too busy trying to pull this plank of wood out of my
eye to see the dust in yours.
Be well,
Sponge
06/30/2005
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