For we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23

In Romans 3, Paul reminds us that we are all unrighteous. In 3:9 he says it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God…”  So, how is it that we develop this self-righteous attitude? Now some of you are sitting there saying, “Who, me?” Maybe I’m just talking about myself here and if so, please feel free to stop reading at this point. But working in law enforcement, you tend to develop a” them against us” attitude. Now I’m sure that this can be said of many occupations. But, I will say this, when you work with people whose sin has been exposed for all to see it is easy to adapt an attitude of self-righteousness. It is easy to look down your nose at them and be grateful that you are not that way. It is easy to have contempt for them for the awful things they have done. And while in God’s eyes sin is sin, I would much rather deal with an addict or someone who has stolen than someone who has harmed a child. But we are to hate the sin and not the sinner.

If they walk like a duck and quack like a duck then they are a duck, right? If the evidence points to their guilt, then they are guilty until proven innocent. Since I’ve retired I have come to realize that it isn’t only those in law enforcement that judge people in this way. Those from law enforcement may see more of the world’s depravity than some of the others out there, but we all tend to judge people. We must be very, very careful of this. We are clearly told in Matthew 7:1 that we should not judge so that we will not be judged. We are told that in the way that we judge, we will be judged and by our own standard of measure. Ouch! In 2 Timothy 4:2 we are told to preach the word, be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. In Galatians 6:1 we are told to restore a sinner in a spirit of gentleness and to watch ourselves so that we will not be tempted.

Now you must understand there are times when people are ready and willing to fight when dealing with law enforcement and other professions as well. They get that fight or flight mentality and I am not saying that law enforcement personnel, educators, or anyone should not defend themselves. I believe we should always be prepared to properly defend ourselves.

But what I am saying is when we deal with someone that we see as low on the totem pole of society, remember that they are already down. They don’t need to be kicked just to be kicked. Remember that while that person holding that sign that says, “Will work for food” may be a nuisance to you, they are somebody to someone out there. They are someone’s daughter or son. They are someone’s sister or brother. They are someone’s niece or nephew. They are someone to somebody. But most importantly they are a child of God. They are just like me and you. While you may look down your nose and say, “I am nothing like that person!” On the contrary, you are just like that person. While you may not be homeless and you may hold down a job and support yourself and your family, you are a miserable sinner. And so am I. There I said it. We are all miserable sinners. The only difference is that some of us commit sins that are not against the law. But we know that in God’s eyes sin is sin. Some of us have that hidden sin that no one has found out about yet. But we all sin. When we judge them, for example, we are sinning. When we fail to love them, we fail to obey God’s second greatest commandment (Matthew 22:39).

While it is not illegal for someone to be addicted to gambling or porn, is it not just as bad as the person addicted to pain pills or heroin? We all sin. None of us are righteous without the blood shed by Jesus Christ. None of us are any better than anyone else. We are all children of God. God wants all of us to come to Him and repent and be saved. As a Christian, do you help or hinder those lost in sin?

So no matter what you do, I ask you to see others as God sees them, through eyes of compassion. See them as one of God’s children. You will be amazed at how differently you will deal with them. And when you deal with others, remember a few of these stories. Remember how Jesus did not stone or instruct the others to stone the woman who committed adultery (John 8:4-11)? No, he told her to go and sin no more. He didn’t condemn the woman at the well (John 4:5-42), but offered her living water. He even begged God to forgive those who crucified Him (Luke 22:34).

You may be the only Bible others ever read. Remember that it is our job to show others Christ through us. It is our job to shine like a beacon to draw the lost of the world to God. It is not our job to judge or condemn. Do your job and allow God to do His. And while you do whatever it is that you do strive to see those you deal with, whether it be coworkers, clients or even fellow church members, as God’s children. Pray for them when you see them stumble. Be there to lift them up when they fall. Trust in God to deal with them as is His will, don’t inflict your will on them, but trust in His. And whatever you do, remember that they are someone to somebody, but most importantly they are God’s child and a sinner, just like you.

Have a great day!