STEWARD'S CORNER
The Tendency for Judgm
I have a strong dislike (I try not to use that other word) for Walmart. I wish I could say it’s because I champion small business or some other noble reason, but really it’s because it takes me too long to shop there. I can never find a parking space near the front door, and because I rarely go to the store, I never find what I need without wandering around first. By that time I have found so many things I need and have to wait in the long lines to check out. Then I wander again, this time in the parking lot, trying to find my car. Half my day is gone and I have to deal with self loathing from supporting a store I strongly dislike.
So when I do go to Walmart it is because I have to. For years, I would have my Sunday School classes plant flowers in pots they had decorated for Mother’s Day. One year, Lowe’s & Home Depot were both out of the clay pots I needed and I was forced to go to Walmart. As usual, parking wasn’t easy and I had to search for the pots. Because I hadn’t bothered getting a cart, it was tricky carrying the stacked pots, but I managed. As I searched for my car, I thought to myself, “No wonder I strongly dislike Walmart. They didn’t even give me any bags to help me carry all these pots!” It was then that I realized I hadn’t checked out. I hurried back into the store to pay—nervous, but trying to act nonchalant.
This story is an embarrassing example of bias in action. Because of my bias against Walmart, it was easy for me to think they were at fault. It fit my narrative about them. It’s the same with biases against people. It might be they said something you don’t agree with. It might be they were rude, annoying, too left, too right, or a thousand other things. We try to avoid them or even disparage them. The last thing we want to do is to minister to them.
But in Matthew 7:1 Jesus warns us: "Judge not, that ye be not judged." (KJV).
We all have biases and none of us are perfect. So what can we do to overcome our tendency to become judgmental? The first step is to try to recognize our biases. When you realize you have a bias against someone, try to think of something good about that person. It can be easy to dismiss the good when you are focused on the bad. Think twice about whether you are being fair to them. Try to learn more about them. And know that biases interfere with our job as Christians - which is to spread the love of God.
Kim Toohey,
Congregational Life Chair
THE PRESIDENT'S OUTBOX
As most of you know, this month there will be a series of “Sunday School” discussions after worship focused on our search for a new pastor. The Call Committee, charged with preparing the Mission Site Profile for prospective pastors, will lead these discussions, which will focus on two questions: Should we call a full-time or a part-time pastor? Are we open to calling a non-Lutheran pastor?
Within our number, there are strong opinions on these questions, which should surprise no one. But as Luke Johnson said in The Creed, “The tension created by difference within the church challenges it to grow to greater maturity and to work together towards a consensus.” We should approach these questions with open-mindedness, listening to others’ opinions more than pressing our own.
We had precisely this discussion at church council at our October meet-ing. We did not all agree. Yet the entire tone of the discussion had an underlying atmosphere of respect and unity of purpose. We all want what’s best for Gethsemane’s future. As human as we are, prone to many shortcomings, it was surely the type of discussion that God smiles upon.
Please make a point to attend as many of these Sunday morning discussions as you can and share your thoughts on these two questions. But do more listening than talking and understand that even in disagreement there can be unity of purpose. See you there.
Blessings,
Dave Leverenz, President
