Be careful about your pronouncements! Something you feel strongly about today may look different tomorrow when a member of your own family is involved. I remember the famous Pastor of a large Baptist Church who preached often against divorce.He went so far as to proclaim that no divorced person would ever hold a office or lead in Worship in his Church. And then his soloist daughter got a divorce. He immediately changed his doctrine. Your own flesh and blood involved will change your outlook. Many people who favored an aggressive campaign of spreading democracy by military means have now changed their minds because their own children are in the combat zone. Many people spoke loudly against gays and lesbians until their own child "came out of the closet". Many people have discovered deep down feelings of racism when their own child wanted to marry a person of color or foreign birth. Some who testified to having a strong faith retreated into fear when attacked by a debilitating disease.
Be careful before you make a pronouncement. Maybe you don't have all the facts? Maybe there is another side to the story? And you don't have a clue how that situation feels. Ezekiel the Preacher relates "I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them seven days---overwhelmed." (Ezekiel 3:15 NIV) He just sat there! Non-judgemental! No trite observation! He didn't want to add to their discomfort. I call that a "ministry of presence". James 1:19 (NIV) instructs "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak." Don't speak judgementally. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1-2 NIV)
"Lord, help us to be gentle with one another. Help us not to jump to conclusions,
but if we do, help us to keep it to ourselves. Forgive for speaking hurtful things. Amen"
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