This anecdote came across my screen the other day:
A young couple moved into a new house.
The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbour hanging the washing outside.
“That laundry is not very clean; she doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better soap powder.
Her husband looked on, remaining silent.
Every time her neighbour hung her washing out to dry, the young woman made the same comments.
A month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband, “Look, she’s finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?”
The husband replied, ”I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”
And so it is with life…
What we see when watching others depends on the clarity of the window through which we look.
So don’t be too quick to judge others, especially if your perspective of life is clouded by anger, jealousy, negativity or unfulfilled desires.
“Judging a person does not define who they are. It defines who you are.”
It is a nice story as an illustration but it scratches me. It doesn’t sit right…
At first I thought it is actually more like the “Veil” covering our eyes as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 10, but the author of the story specifically mentions judgement, and the judgement of others (Romans 2: “…Before you judge the wickedness of others, you had better remember this: You are also without excuse…” TPT)
But this is an uncomfortable discussion. Sin and Judgement. (and honestly, has been at the root or cause of so many church splits, creations of new denominations, and more infighting than we as Christians would want to admit.
Without getting into a long theological discussion about Calvinism vs Arminianism, The Lutheran doctrines, and the core of every theological organisation currently on the face of the earth, I want to make the statement:
It actually doesn’t matter…
If my focus is on God, then my nature will change accordingly. If my life is about the relationship with the Father, then my lifestyle will adjust in flow. If it doesn’t, I have a problem!
Does this mean we can forget about sin? No, we cannot. Should we strive not to be sinful? Absolutely! Do we have a “free pass” to sin because our transgressions have been paid for? Nope… Not for a moment.
Paul says in Romans 2:4 “… Don’t mistake His tolerance for acceptance. Do you realise that all the wealth of His extravagant kindness is meant to melt your heart and lead you to repentance?” (TPT)
When we see sin in the world, the first response in my heart must be to thank God for the sins He has already forgiven me from. Because my sins are hidden in my heart and not available to others to judge. But God knows, and I know that He has already forgiven me much much more than I can ever repay with a thousand years of service…
So, just like with a broken leg… I can’t fix your leg, but I can wrap it and strap it, and I can take you to someone who can. I can’t do anything about another person’s sin, but I can introduce you to The One who can.
… and then when I get home, make sure my windows are washed 
