Judge Judy, I Am Not

Nov 16, 2024By Mark O'Reilly
Mark O'Reilly

Dear Reader,

Today hit differently. I was reading Romans 14:1-5, and it really made me pause and think about how I've been acting lately. You know how I can get sometimes – pretty quick to form opinions about how others practice their faith. This passage felt like a gentle but firm nudge from God.

It's funny, really. Here I am, often silently judging others for their choices – like Sarah at church with her strict dietary choices, or Mike's insistence on specific worship days. Paul's words in Romans just cut right through all that noise. Who am I to judge? God has accepted them, period. End of story.

I had to be honest with myself today. I've definitely been that person who tries to "fix" others' beliefs. Just last Sunday, I caught myself wanting to argue with John about his views on baptism. But this passage reminded me – that's not my job. My job is to love and accept, not to be the doctrine police.

Something really struck me about how Paul handled this. He knew the "right" answers about food and holy days, but he chose not to hammer people with them. Instead, he focused on acceptance and understanding. That's pretty powerful when you think about it. Maybe true spiritual maturity isn't about knowing all the right answers, but about knowing when to set aside our "rightness" for the sake of love.

I'm making a commitment to myself right here: I want to be more like that. Less judgmental, more accepting. Less focused on being right, more focused on being kind. It's going to be a journey, and I know I'll mess up, but I want to try.

Note to self: Next time I'm tempted to correct someone's theological views, I'll take a breath and remember today's reflection. Their journey with God is their journey, not mine to micromanage.

Until next time, Chaplain Mark