Everyone thinks they are accepting of others. Nobody admits it to others, let alone to themselves, but we as sinful humans have acceptance issues. It is human nature to judge a book by it’s cover, so how could we not do the same in regards to people? Even if you are sitting in church, you judge others. If someone sits down next to you wearing pajamas, hair disheveled, tattoos, and smelling like a cigarette; you are likely judging them in your head. It is normal. It is human. It is a sin.
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”
Matthew 7:1-2, NLT
Luckily, we have a forgiving God. That does not mean we have a free pass to commit the same sins, feel bad about them, and continue committing them. It is our duty as God’s children to free ourselves of sin and live a righteous life. The instructions to do so were given to us by God.
“But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.”
1 John 3:8-10, NLT
We hold each other accountable in our marriage. However, it is truly God that we answer to. Our mother-in-laws will not be the ones guarding the gates of heaven. So despite our incessant wish for their approval, it is ultimately God we must answer to.
Just the other night in a small group; I, Harmony, found myself making judgments on some of the believers present. I found myself thinking that the individuals in question were annoying. I judged them off of their unorthodox mannerisms. However I felt a voice inside of me, the Holy Spirit, telling me not to judge them as I was not privy to their entire story. By happenstance later that week I found out more information that enlightened me and gave me empathy towards the individuals and their subsequent behavior. Listening to the Holy Spirit’s voice in me has been a rather new development. I have always struggled with judging others, but have found a new freedom in accepting people as the are.
“May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.”
Romans 15:5-7, NLT
We are called to accept one another. So, next time we see someone sitting next to us in church that doesn’t fit our expectations of what a Christian should look like, we will ask the question: where would we rather them be?
Messengers of Mercy 
Loved the comment on your mother’s in law not guarding the gates of heaven. That is funny and so true. And I love the insight on how all of judge by appearance and how off we usually are because without hearing their story we know nothing to base judgment on.
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