Vince Deagler

hi out there.  haven’t written in awhile, largely because much of what is happening is same old, same old, and my mind has been going in several different directions so it was hard to focus on a singular thought.  but i finally decided to settle on one, largely because of the extended discussion i had in 2 different bible studies on the same issue.  this past sunday we covered matthew 7:1-5.  experience tells me this is perhaps the most misquoted passage of scripture of all time.  who has not heard…the bible says…judge not.

now, let’s stop right there.  is that what it says?  i like to fish, i often joke that jesus says…follow me and i will make you a fisher.  it does say that you know.  there is only one problem with that assessment, it is not the complete thought.  jesus says he will make us a fisher of men, not just a fisher.  similarly, if you look at the text, there is no period after judge not.  in other words, judge not does not express the complete thought jesus was trying to communicate.  a better understanding would be…be careful how you judge others because that is how you will be judged.  whatever standard you use to measure others will be the standard used on you.  having warned us to be careful in how we evaluate/relate to others, jesus explains what is one of the biggest problems we face in this area. 

he points out we have the capacity to see specs in others, and be oblivious to planks in ourselves.  from the context it is reasonable to conclude the specs and planks refer to our flaws.  we are an imperfect, broken people.  most of us agree with that assessment.  despite the fact we are well aware of this truth, we still more readily see the imperfection in others much more clearly than we see our own.  now let me point out a few observations.  a spec and a plank/log are very different size wise.  do you think that is part of what jesus is trying to stress.  that we see minor imperfections in others, and fail to notice huge problems in our own lives?  or is it a literary technique to highlight the issue (as we often use exaggeration to stress a point)?  i’ll let you chew on that, because either way we arrive at the same relational consequence.  i will not give you the credit you deserve (the specs will result in point deductions), and i will give myself more credit than i deserve (can’t see my planks).  thus as i keep score i will see you as not doing your part, pulling your weight, treating me fairly, etc.  if that is true, and i think it is, that kind of observation will effect me.  i may grow angry and even bitter in time.  i will fester with resentment.  i may withdraw, after all why should i care, why should i try, if you won’t.  all kinds of bad things can result when we start keeping score with this kind of perception problem.  so let me ask another question, is there a way around this problem?  thankfully there is.

jesus gets to it in verse 5.  he calls us to be internalist’s.  rather than focusing our attention on the imperfections of others (where we have no ability to effect change), we should focus on our own imperfections.  we know they are there, we do not readily see them, all the more reason to focus internally (remember, you do have the ability to effect change in you).  as we start dealing with our imperfections, good things happen.  just think of all the people you deal with.  none are perfect, everyone of them has flaws.  but suppose, one by one, these flaws were dealt with.  wouldn’t it be easier for you to relate to those people?  well, if you start dealing with your flaws, everyone around you will have an easier time relating to you.  and because you have fewer flaws for them to work through, they will probably be able to relate to you in a more beneficial way for all involved.  we have now created a very positive cycle where we are feeding off each other, and it all began with us choosing to be internalist.

now, that does not mean others do not have problems.  problems they may need help with.  as the text says, once we deal with our own issues, then and only then are we in a position to help them with there specs.  just think of how our relationships would change if we did this.  husbands would concentrate on being better husbands, and wives would be forever grateful.  ditto for wives, and the need for man caves would be greatly diminished.  mom’s and dad’s would change, and if kids (especially teens) would follow this principle our homes would be revolutionized.  the work place, neighborhoods, schools, teams, churches, everywhere would be transformed.  so let’s get to work.  i can change me, you can change you, as we change everyone around us is impacted positively, and this is exactly the kind of thing god can use to accomplish his purpose.

i’d love to hear your thoughts.  thanks for reading.  blessings.  vince