Jesus went after the one

powerful thoughts from Julie Neidlinger on helping others:

I have some guilt, I suppose, but I can see that that would serve no purpose except to cause me to do nothing. I’ve learned that guilt isn’t always a motivator from the conscience, but sometimes an excuse to wallow in inaction. I don’t understand God’s concept of fairness and how He doles out blessings and what it will all look like in the end, so I should just quit my philosophizing and do something in this moment to help.

My experiences in Nicaragua come to mind. I’ve dealt with the guilt dance down there time and time again, coming to the simple understanding that I must help who I can, when I can. It might not be everyone, but it matters to that one. “Jesus left the 99 sheep to find the missing one,” I lightly reminded a friend when our discussions on what to do to help veered into the territory of finding maximum use of our dollar, spreading it out as far as our fiscally reasonable minds would allow, or finding ways to help the most people though perhaps sacrificing a more personal care. “He wasn’t about helping the maximum amount. He went after one. He can take care of everyone. He just asks us to be faithful in the small things, the one.”

I also understand that it’s easier to help someone in need thousands of miles away instead of just a few blocks from my door. But Nicaragua served as a good teacher in telling me stop worrying about if I was getting taken for a ride and being lied to and using that as an excuse to withhold help, but instead, to see helping a person another way: the question isn’t about another person’s motives, but the condition of my heart. Will I, free and clear, answer the need presented to me, or will I question motives and try to determine if a person “deserves” my help?

emphasis added.

go read the rest.

beyond first impressions

Do you make judgments based on what someone looks like? Do you automatically categorize and rank the people you come into contact with based on their clothes?

I know it happens. and so do you.

I go to a furniture store wearing my work uniform. Suit, Tie, Pressed shirt, Shiny polished cap toe shoes. I get waited on right away and great attention is paid to my every grimace and grin.

I later go back to the same store in my weekend clothes. old jeans, old t-shirt, ball cap with sweat rings, not shaven, athletic shoes. I don’t get any attention from the staff. I try to make eye contact. They look away. I ask for help from the group of store employees around the cash register. They look at each other. One of them reluctantly peels off to help me.

James says that if we make such distinctions based on outward appearance, we are sinning. He says that if we commit this sin of partiality, that we are guilty of transgressing the whole law.

Why would he say such a thing? why did he call out this sin in particular?

My theory is that the sin of partiality is precisely the one most at odds with the command Jesus gave us to love our neighbor as ourself. If we are judging people based on shallow externals like clothes, then we are doing the most opposite thing from loving them like we should.

I was reminded of this truth by Julie Neidlinger this morning. She has a post up about her work uniform and how people react to it. the whole thing is great, but her list of what she knows about people is just a fantastic reminder to all of us as we slip into judgmental patterns.

here it is:

Here’s what I know about people:

People have things that hurt and make them sad.
People have fear.
People want to be loved.
People want to feel that they matter and to know that someone cares about them.
People bring joy to other people in their lives.
People have unique personalities and abilities.
People have stories that make up their lives.
People have anger and disappointment.
People have joy and laughter.
People are just like me, for I am a person.

Knowing all that, I must work harder to see people as these kinds of real people and not as the uniform they are wearing.