Nougat 17

I strongly suspect that my main motivation for this Nougat series is the anti-migrant riots in the UK. The sentiments resulted from news of an alleged migrant being responsible for the death of a minor. Murder is intolerable. And it ought to be punished. It has sparked a series of protests, evictions, and backlash against ‘all migrants’ in the UK. In one sense, I’ve exaggerated the extent of the backlash.

What I object to is the mass, unlawful, punishment directed toward migrants. And, as a migrant in Europe, it doesn’t feel like an exaggeration. Prior to this, I’ve felt that Europeans would rather that we’re not in their country. This is understandable in part, but the measures imposed have been, for the most part, unreasonable. Today’s Holy Nougat, invites us to look at how we treat others … with regard to judgement and condemnation.

Luke 6:37 AMP

[37] “ Do not judge [others self-righteously], and you will not be judged; do not condemn [others when you are guilty and unrepentant], and you will not be condemned [for your hypocrisy]; pardon [others when they truly repent and change], and you will be pardoned [when you truly repent and change]. [Matt 7:1-5]

Do Not Judge

I admit, it is seriously hard to exist in this world as a neutral party. It is hard to maintain objectivity toward like people when one has helped or hurt us. Haven’t we judged the attitude of countries before, based on the one or two persons we met? We might even make blanket statements about them in response to what we’ve read or experienced. Those are judgements. Sometimes, those judgements are wrong.

Moreover, we often forget that when we’re casting judgements, our verdict may result in others interpreting our behaviour and making their own judgements too. Hence, Jesus’ warning … judge not, lest you also face judgement… When we resort to judgement others without knowing them, that is prejudice – pre-judge-ice. Or, as we sometimes say in the region, we take one fish’s fat to fry all fish. Coined that way, it seems somewhat ridiculous, as fish aren’t excessively fatty. We usually can’t plan to fry a fish in its own fat, less so, frying others.

As I type, I’m thinking of my own judgements: how I respond to foreign folks in their own country or my own, of my bias towards or against particular groups, value judgements made in jest, and other ways I’ve contributed to prejudice. And I’m called to repentance.

I’m also thinking about how my attitudes and actions may have established negative biases against Christ. When I practice prejudiced behaviour, I’m inviting judgement from others about me and about Christ whom I serve. It’s time for change – in me, perhaps also in you.

We can’t force others to stop pre-judging. We can’t even fully change their negative reactions. But maybe if we transform our biases, others might be inclined to do likewise. If that were to be the case, we could change our space and eventually the world.

Selah

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May all we seek be found in Christ