Just Like Me
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10
When did it become okay to call other people ‘evil?’ Historically, the term ‘evil’ was reserved for those who committed acts of violence or engaged in truly despicable behavior. However, it is important to distinguish between such actions and the everyday differences we encounter in others. When we encounter people who do not look, act, or believe as we do, it is easy to make assumptions about their character from a distance. These assumptions often stem from our perceptions, which can be influenced by limited information or preconceived notions. Some perceptions may be accurate, while others can be exaggerated or entirely unfounded. To truly understand someone, we must take the time to get to know them
No one I know is inherently ‘evil.’ Granted, I have never had a sit down with a serial killer or spent a great deal of time trying to know the story of a mass murderer. What I have found is that everyone has a story, and when I have dug in to find out one’s personal story, I have yet to find one evil person. Yes, people make mistakes, and while I may not always agree with them or want to befriend them, I've discovered a profound truth: we are all loved despite our failures. The only one who has never failed is the person called Jesus, and as one of my favorite movie quotes says, “I've come up with only two hard, incontrovertible facts; there is a God, and I'm not Him.” Once we acknowledge those two facts, we can see people for who they are; people like me.
We must focus our view of others as Jesus viewed us. Paul’s words deeply resonated with me in today’s verses where he noted, “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done.” While we understand this, our actions often suggest otherwise. We should never place conditions on God’s grace. For example, you must change your ways if you are to be worthy of the love of Jesus. Another common one is you must do this, and then you are Christian. These entirely miss the mark! Paul clarifies this beautifully in Romans 10:
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. Romans 10:9-12
Does that sound like there are other conditions? No. This is not to say that one is to remain stagnant in their growth after becoming a Christian. It is to say we are to encourage one another and build each other up (see 1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Calling others evil or other disparaging words is not of the Gospel of Jesus Christ at all. This does not mean we are to ignore actions or choice that go against God’s teaching. It does mean we are to seek time to understand others and see where they are. Then encourage them through God’s love. I say encourage because if you say it to yourself and do not find it inspiring, then you are missing the mark. Jesus died to serve others even though He is God. Expecting anything less of ourselves is falling short. Let’s never forget that. Where have you attacked someone simply because they did not see God’s Kingdom as you did? How can we seek understanding over judging of others? My prayer is that we see each person like God sees them; just like me. Amen.