I hope you enjoyed our Tale of Three Kings discussion!  Before I exposed my sucker-ness for free things : ), we were getting ready to launch into a spicy part of thinking things that are Philippians 4:8 lovely:

Now as we’re talking about keeping from becoming critical, it almost feels like there is an elephant in the room.  You know, the big Christian elephant.  The one that everyone wonders:  Why are Christians so judgmental?

Since having lovely thoughts includes not setting our minds on criticism, since judgmental thoughts are, well, critical, and since Christians are so well known for being judgmental, I think it’s important we dig into this… and dig into it well.

I want to begin our discussion with a perhaps controversial statement.  Are you ready?  Here we go:

Christians have too many opinions.

Yes.  Total folly.

Yet another Christian with yet another opinion.

… about opining nonetheless!

But I think we can do better.

Maybe I’m the only Christian who, as I’ve learned new truths of Scripture, has gone through seasons where my application of those truths has been more judgmental than helpful, and more destructive than what Christ intends for our hearts.  Maybe it’s just me.

And maybe I’m the only one who has experienced the destructive effects of others’ judging.  Maybe I’m the only one who has gone through seasons where the Lord has repeatedly allowed the painful impacts of opining.  Maybe it’s just me.

If it is, then these posts will at least help me sort through all of that.

But maybe – just maybe - they can be helpful for all of us.

Maybe they could really enliven our relationships so that our lives and interactions are filled with grace, care, and love infused into the truths that matter.

I think we can do better.

And I think we’ll enjoy the result.