038 – OCTOBER 2006
PRESUMPTION
[pri-zuhmp-shuhn]
* an assumption, often not fully established, that is taken for granted in some piece of reasoning.
Mt 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.”
While visiting a particular church, where it was the religious custom for the women to cover their heads, I spotted this one particular older lady. She was seated about 4 pews in front of me and I noticed that she had used a handkerchief to cover her head. I further noticed that the handkerchief was unwashed, very dirty, and in need of ironing. I decided that even if she was a poor person, she ought to be able to use a more clean covering in public. I thought, “Couldn’t she just see how distasteful this was?”
As the church service ended, I watched her stand. Next, I watched someone take her arm and escort her out the pew. With interest to see her face, I watched her turn toward the aisle. It was then that I spotted her clouded eyes … and her white cane. I hung my head in shame for the crass judgement which I so easily made.
It was 25 years ago when I learned that valuable lesson. Although the Bible is so very clear about not “Judging Others”, it seems that folks continue to spend a lot of time doing it. I have learned that it is a waste of time because it is impossible to draw an accurate judgement. Think about it- All of our judgements include a mixture of presumption. We cannot have all of the information to make a flawless judgement . We are on the outside-looking-in and, every day, millions of inaccurate verdicts are made … a few towards you. I am sure that someone has drawn a conclusion about you that was based on lack of information and resulting in poor judgement . I am sure that you did not like that, yet … we still allow ourselves to be caught in that fleshy trap.
Romans 2:1 “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you, who pass judgment, do the same things.
Have you ever heard someone make a comment such as, “Can you believe that person is a Christian and they drive a Mercedes?”
I always respond to those comments with a series of mischievous questions, “Where is it, oh Wise One, that we should draw the line? Is it okay for me to drive a Volvo? Ford Taurus? Or maybe a 3 year old used car? As long as it isn’t a Mercedes, of course?”
I wear a diamond ring on my right hand. It is ample in size and some folks probably think that I am blinging it. Some may suppose that I am wearing it for some sense of self worth or a statement of net financial worth. Honorably, they reason that I should be giving this type of money to the poor. Eventually, the urge to have others agree will follow with, “That person is a Christian and he flaunts a huge diamond ring.”
Okay … So here we are again! How huge can the diamond be? What about other jewelry? What about wrist watches? Which particular watch do we determine to be the limit for a proper person? A Rolex? Never! A Timex? Okay! But, could there be a permission clause to buy something a little bit nicer? As long as it doesn’t cost over $200? 150?
Can you see how silly it all is? And how dangerous it can be to appoint yourself as the lawmaker and judge? And I wonder how many times each day, we make ‘busy body’ judgements infused with an assumption, not fully established? I wonder how disappointed God feels as He observes this mess?
Mt 7:2 “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
The rest of the story - Shortly after my Grandmother died, my Mom received a small inheritance. She immediately went to the jeweler and, as a huge expression of love, used the entire amount to buy a good sized diamond ring for her husband … my Dad. He proudly wore this ring until his death in 1996 … upon which my Mom gave me the ring and said she would be honored if I wore it.
