Everyday people

Romans 14:1-6New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.

Going a little bit off text today.  The ELCA reading was a different version of Jesus and the fig tree: Mark's today, after having Matthew's last week.

So instead, I'm revisiting the epistle reading from this past Sunday.  It was one that caught my eye over the weekend, as judgment just seems to be one of those long standing issues that I can't quite seem to eliminate from my repertoire of bad behaviors!

And to keep with the popular music theme of the week, here's are little advice on judging others from Sly and the Family Stone: (video found here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUUhDoCx8zc)

"Sometimes I'm right, and I can be wrong

My own beliefs are in my song

The butcher, the banker, the drummer and then

Makes no difference what group I'm in

I am everyday people, yeah, yeah

There is a blue one

Who can't accept the green one

For living with a fat one

Trying to be a skinny one

Different strokes 

For different folks

And so on and so on..."

In some ways, Paul isn't saying something so very different to the Romans.  Different strokes for different folks.  You don't eat meat?  You do?  Different strokes.  

If only it were that easy.

I think that really of every command ever written in scripture - of everything from the Hebrew Bible as well as everything Jesus or any of the Apostles ever said, this is the biggie.  Do not judge.

Big because it's important.

Big also because it's impossible.

Impossible.

Can you remember a day of your life where you didn't do it at least once?  And probably, if you're like me, closer to 100 times.

Judging can be big.  We don't always quibble when we judge murderers and violent criminals.

But everyday people like me also judge in everyday ways.  Everyday little ways.  What someone eats.  What they wear.  What they believe.  How they vote.  Who they love.  How they look.  Where they are from.  What college they went to. How they drive.  Whether they are married or not.  Whether they agree with me or not.  Or like the same things I like.  

What church they go to.

What church they don't go to.

The truth is, Paul seems to know here that we're going to judge.  We do it.  As much as we are told not to do it, we do it.  

Even though with every fiber of our being we usually know we shouldn't.

And yet, Paul says, whatever it is we do, do it to honor God.  Even if our actions are judged by others.

We aren't all going to believe the same things.  We aren't all going to look the same or vote the same or eat the same or be the same.

And yet the same God is who we are to honor.  Whoever we are, however we believe, is it God whom we are honoring with our heart?  With our actions?  With our life?

God of all, help us to honor you with our words and deeds, and help us to remember that you alone are the one true judge.  Amen.