When I look at myself it’s easy to focus on my flaws and shortcomings. Self criticism can be constructive as long as it isn’t overbearing. Too much criticism can be debilitating. When it comes to what I allow myself to do or think, some would say I’m pretty conservative. The fact that I believe in scripture at all is a conservative thing.
When it comes to what I expect or allow others to believe or do, I’m liberal. It is not my place to tell others how they should order their lives—what books they should or shouldn’t read, whether or not they should have an abortion, what kind of music they should like, whether or not they should embrace an LGBTQ lifestyle. These and many other questions are not mine to answer for anyone else.
Jesus said...”If you judge other people, then you will find that you, too, are being judged. Indeed, you will be judged by the very standards to which you hold other people” (Matthew 7:1-2, The Voice).
True Christianity gives people a lot of room to find their way in life. True believers don’t dictate how people should think our live. Jesus never forced his ideology upon anyone and we shouldn’t either.
Trying to control or prescribe how others live is the ultimate expression of what it means to be a “busy body.” It’s one thing to try to be a positive influence upon those around us, but quite another to dictate through our strong opinions how they should live.
One of the first things we’re told when learning to drive is to “stay in your lane.” The same thing applies as we journey through life. We need to stay focused on what God is calling us to and not get in the way of the other “drivers.”
Rich DuBose writes from Northern California. Photo by Yan Krukau, with Pexels.
On the web at: richdubose.com. All Rights Reserved © 2025. Join me on Blue Sky @spiritrenew.bsky.social.
Scripture taken from The Voice™. Copyright © 2012 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.