Not Just Childhood Drama

I have stuff on my mind today…which puts me in the mood to journal, but  my fingers tingle and hurt (doctor attributes it to pregnancy somehow :). So since I can't write in my journal at the moment, I thought I'd create a post. So here it is...Do I abhor the act of looking down on others? Do I even recognize it as sin? I think for some reason that teasing or “snubbing” is a childhood problem...something that we all grow out of. I'm recognizing, however, that teasing, belittling, looking down on others because of the clothes they wear, car they drive, house they live in, way they talk...etc...is an adult problem. And it's one that Scripture talks about. I've also noticed that God has put someone in my life who really sees people as...well people.

I’ll say that (as long as I’ve known him) Nathan looks at anybody as a potential friend and never considers his friendship to be charity. He genuinely likes people. He just likes them...in our marriage I've never seen him look down on anyone. I LOVE that about a person...I love that about him. Okay so that blurb about Nathan is a side note...I'm getting off topic...that's how I journal...back to the point.

I know that God hates (yes hates) a haughty attitude and gossip. (Proverbs 6:16 "There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.") I don't want those words to describe me, and they have plenty of times in my history. Instead of befriending the "underdog" (for lack of a better word)...the one MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD who is dehumanized and made to feel lesser than, I am too easily persuaded to blend into the "popular" crowd (which does exist into adulthood...let's be honest) in fear of rejection. Then, when I'm the "underdog" I pout and wade in self-pity.

Here's what I read about it today...a clear as crystal word about partiality:

James 2:1-6

“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say "You sit here in a good place, " and you say to the poor man, You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives? Listen, my beloved brethren did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man…”

So fresh on my conscience is that I really need to be careful with my attitude toward others. That critical thought that pops into my mind about another person…it needs to die. The rude word on my tongue that is about to catapult out of my mouth…it needs to evaporate. And I need to be aware of what kind of laughter honors God because as good of medicine as it is (and laughter itself is biblical), God abhors laughter that hurts someone’s feelings (Lord help me!). I need to be sensitive to obey the one law that sums up all of the law…LOVE…love God and love one another. And James goes on to make the connection

James 2: 8-9

“If however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself, “you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”  

I’ll say it again…Lord help me! I don’t want to hurt people. It’s petty…but as a grown-up I still need to learn sometimes that there’s more to life than making into the “in” crowd.