perception is reality

The other issue that we struggle with is this:

Pride

Spiritual pride to be specific. For too long, the church has tolerated a certain sense of spiritual pride where we actually believe that is our job to judge the sins of outsiders. We are intolerant of anyone else’s sin, but tolerant of our pride. How does that work? How is it that we can judge others, but not see that our own lives come dangerous close to those of the Scribes and Pharisees. These were the very people who spirituality Jesus was speaking against.
We have become arrogant, and guess what the research tells us? That Christians are intolerant of outsiders sin and judge them for those sins, Christians are extremely tolerant of our own pride; we do not feel God’s anger at our own arrogance. Even though His word says this, that He:

Opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
James 4:6 NIV

Living into humility would go a long way to give the outside world a more accurate and Christ centered perception of His followers. I wonder if we adopted a more humble spirit as we approach other people, if the perception that we are judgmental would melt away for many?

I welcome your comments.