Merry Christmas, Don’t Judge! Choose to Love and Criticize Constructively,
By Benjamin Pulle Niriwa, 25.12.2023
Figure 1: Don't Judge, Choose Love, Criticize Constructively Without Hatred!
What Christmas makes exceptional is not because of how beautiful or expensive one has dresses! Your inner beauty is more important to God than everything. Our inner beauties are determined by our ability to accept our faults or weaknesses, apologize when we go wrong, and forgive others who wrong us willingly. You are not celebrating Christmas if you are still hurting others or having evil thoughts about others. The Holy Spirit does not promote falsehoods, hatred and all forms of negativities that some people engage for the purpose of surviving. But no one is perfect than those who for whatever reasons might find themselves doing something that does not pleases God (John, 3:16; Romans., 3:23-24).
Jesus has taught his disciples how to live peacefully with others! This is what normally puts a smile on God’s face, not being too judgmental and discriminatory! The greatest commandment, parable of the Good Samaritan and the adulterous woman who was caught in the act of committing adultery (Matthew, 22: 34-40; Luke., 10:25-37; John., 8:1-11), as well as what happened when she was sent before Jesus; are full of beautiful lessons for all human kinds who really want to live peacefully with others in life.
Everyone that one meets in his/her life matters a lot in the journey of life! How we treat our colleague human beings at home, work, places of worships and anywhere people meet is what determines whether we really fear God or love Him. This is because every human being you meet in your life is an image of God that needs to be loved and respected. In our various homes, offices, and wherever you meet others; you might not be demonstrating love of God if you are spreading falsehoods or falsely accusing others.
This does not mean that we should be quiet when something is going wrong! We can constructively criticize, but no human being has the power to judge others except God. Jesus demonstrated this when he was tempted whether the woman caught in adultery should be stoned to death or not (John 8:1-11). In the first place where was the man who the woman was caught in adultery with? Sending the woman alone to Jesus leaving the man was already a bias judgment! One person does not commit adultery. Secondly, they themselves were not Angels but equally sinners like the woman; but because no one sees their sins they turn around to point fingers at her (Matthew 7:1-5).
This story is true about our various homes, offices/work places, where we worship and wherever two or more people meet. People spread falsehoods or lies against others but they have been involving in serious offenses than those that they point fingers at. After Jesus told the multitude who were accusing the adulterous woman to cast a stone at her if none of them has never sinned, no one threw a stone at her.
Christmas should be a season of repentance from negative behaviors that put you and others in trouble. This world with all its beauties would be meaningless if the whole world its wealth is given to one person without people. People can be travelling in the same vehicle, ship or aeroplane but have different destinations. The same is applicable to living in the same home, working in the same office or worshipping at the same place.
If we really understand this life as a mere journey that we are all making, there is no need envying others. A child of God who really has the Holy Spirit in him/her cannot hate another human being. But that does not mean that a believer (Christian, Muslim, Traditionalist or Whatever Believer) should allow himself/herself to be unnecessarily bullied by others. That is not what Jesus meant when he was talking about turning the other cheek (Luke, 6:29. KJV. 1611)!
But, how should we react? It mostly dependent on the nature of the situation or the person(s) involved. Generally, we are expected to react in a peaceful manner. But, if someone is violently hurting you, do you need to react peacefully or violently defend yourself? Certain happenings in life demand that as believers we must speak against them peacefully but not by trying to falsely accuse others to maintain neutrality. Speaking the truths against negatives behaviors is like putting up a defensive mechanism to protect yourself and others.
Wherever you might find yourself, you could be faced with unpredictable situations that demand that you should act. All our actions must always aim at promoting peace at the end. During times like these there is the need for both patience and vigilance! I wish all Christians around the globe Merry Christmas and a Happy Prosperous New Year in advance.
Thank you for Reading! Stay Blessed!
References
John, a. (3:16, KJV, 1611). The Gospel According to St. John. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (p. 982). London: Cambridge University Press.
John. (8:1-11. KJV, 1611). The Gospel According to St. John. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (p. 990). London: Cambridge University Press.
Luke, a. (6:29. KJV. 1611). The Gospel According to St. Luke. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (p. 951). London: Cambridge University Press.
Luke. (10:25-37. KJV, 1611). The Gospel According to St. Luke. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (pp. 958-959). London: Cambridge University Press.
Matthew. (22: 34-40, KJV). The Gospel According to St. Matthew. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (p. 910). London: Cambridge University Press.
Matthew, a. (7:1-5. KJV. 1611). The Gospel According to St. Matthew. In K. James. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (p. 690). London: Cambridge University Press.
Romans. (3:23-24, KJV. 1611). The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans. In K. James, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments. Translated Out of the Original Tongues: and With the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised, by His Majesty’s Special Command (p. 1046). London: Cambridge University Press.
