The Benefit of Doubt
If there were ever a group of people who should second guess their impulsive judgments about others it should be Christ followers. We know what forgiveness is. We know we are not enemies. We know all of us have something to learn. We know all of us are flawed. We know the "ideal self" is myth. We know none of us sees things clearly. We know everyone is a critic and everyone has a critic. We know people love to talk about everyone's failures but their own. We know pride is nothing more than an elaborate cover-up for our insecurities. We know evil runs through every single one of us. We know God will finish what He started. And, most of all, we know Christ.
Of course, it's hard to extend the benefit of the doubt when you're licking your wounds. I'd rather operate with the assurance that I know what I saw, I know what I heard, I know what I felt. It's hard to argue with me when I'm talking about myself. But, then, I think of him. And, how he said, "father forgive them, they don't know what they're doing." The ultimate benefit of the doubt.
Maybe next time I'll say to myself, "he didn't mean it, and, even if he did, I don't know." Sure will save me a lot of grief. Rummaging through past hurts and sorting out possible motives only contributes to my delusion of certainty. Instead, I should live with the benefit of doubt.
If there were ever a group of people who should second guess their impulsive judgments about others it should be Christ followers. We know what forgiveness is. We know we are not enemies. We know all of us have something to learn. We know all of us are flawed. We know the "ideal self" is myth. We know none of us sees things clearly. We know everyone is a critic and everyone has a critic. We know people love to talk about everyone's failures but their own. We know pride is nothing more than an elaborate cover-up for our insecurities. We know evil runs through every single one of us. We know God will finish what He started. And, most of all, we know Christ.
Of course, it's hard to extend the benefit of the doubt when you're licking your wounds. I'd rather operate with the assurance that I know what I saw, I know what I heard, I know what I felt. It's hard to argue with me when I'm talking about myself. But, then, I think of him. And, how he said, "father forgive them, they don't know what they're doing." The ultimate benefit of the doubt.
Maybe next time I'll say to myself, "he didn't mean it, and, even if he did, I don't know." Sure will save me a lot of grief. Rummaging through past hurts and sorting out possible motives only contributes to my delusion of certainty. Instead, I should live with the benefit of doubt.
This is good, siesta! I was in the car when you sent it, but now on the computer and reading it, I understand why you had to send it out... GOOD STUFF! Can we be neighbors in heaven? Please? :)
ReplyDeleteUm- I thought we were gonna have one of those old timey houses with a dog run in between for the Two Grill Masters to cook on? Of course, I am sure in heaven, Justin will want to live in the farthest corner of creation possible. But I'll have an eternity to jog back over to civilization to drink coffee and catch up on what Frank & Jerrye have been up to :)
ReplyDelete:-) thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIt was so good to meet you! I love your posts! I recently went to the Women of Faith Conference. It was wonderful. One thing I heard that I am still LOVING is "God is ENOUGH for me and I am ENOUGH for Him!"
ReplyDeleteCandace- I can not get to your blog! I was trying like the past two days, I meant to tell your mom at church, but I didn't get to her in time....
ReplyDeleteShelley, I love that. That goes with your study of The Inheritance, perfectly. He is your Inheritance and you are His.