There were those who mocked him ...

There were those who ridiculed him ...

There were those who laughed at him ...

There those who simply ignored him ...

And there were those who hated him.

Yet, there was a time when no one did any of these things ...they didn't even know him.

A person is asked to appear in court, on your behalf, to testify of your innocence ...because you are in a dire situation, and need the testimony.  You feel the weight of the importance of them showing up in court ...as your life is on the line.

The person shows up, but then testifies they don't even know you!!

How would that make you feel??

Near death, may be a way to express the feeling.

The judge takes out his book ...a whole book about judge's decisions.  And he must decide what is right in his own eyes.

Yes, suppose this is you!  And it is not just a jury, or a courtroom, but an entire community that is poised to help decide whether you are a person to be trusted ...and to consider whether you are telling the truth.

Many people come forward to the witness stand to give account of your character.  You ask yourself how character can be the sole evidence of one's guilt.  Can an honest man have occasion to lie?  And can a dishonest man be capable of telling the truth once in a while??

And isn't it also the characterization of a society that often brings us to this point??

A witness comes to the stand, claiming to know something very critical to the trial.

No one knows, or for that matter, has ever seen this witness. 

The witness speaks: "Does a righteous person have to be loving?  And does a loving person have to be righteous?"

The court remains silent, as if this lunatic witness before them is not about his wits.

The witness continues: "It is often because of our own shortcomings that we have lack of understanding.  And what we don't understand ...we often judge."

The judge feels it is his job to conduct the courtroom: "What does this have to do with this case before us?"

The witness does not smile, nor is a frown forthcoming: "It has to do with every case brought before us, and this one in particular.  Often what is considered right, is not considered loving.  And what is considered loving is often not seen as right."

Judge: "Please, get to the point ...and I will only allow you a few more moments to show your relevancy."

The witness humbly states: "I guess, we must all attempt to prove our relevancy, including yourself."

The judge orders the witness in contempt of court, and as the witness is escorted out of the courtroom, the witness turns to say one more thing: "And I believe you just proved my previous premise ...that you cannot be both loving and right.  But, one must be truly both ...to be truly either."

Where did this all begin??

For us, it began with a man and a woman.  

They say, opposites attract.

Today, many people are sadly attracted to what is opposite of the truth. 

And instead of opposites attract ...it becomes, opposites attack. It may be as plain as black and white, but for years this very simplicity of equality has been viewed as a confrontation.

And it doesn't have to be opposite really ...it can be just differences.

Self-righteous is not just a term to label someone whom you disagree with.  It is rather an overall committed belief that whatever you feel is right for you, is okay.  And there is little consideration for how it may affect others.  Neither is the Bible considered as a source of reference.

And blame always seems to rest upon someone else.  With so much focus on self, why is there not more self-evaluation??

If you look at the First Books of Corinthians and Timothy, it says,"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted for them to speak ..." & "But, I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence..."

Well, I say that if it is to be shown to suffer not a woman, the man will likely suffer much more so.  Why doesn't it say that the woman wouldn't want to be so verbal at church if the man would only let her talk, and he listen ...at home.

At this point, we often like to enter the word, legalism.

But, there should be discernment between the baby and the bath water.  And who is to draw the water, or the fine line between proper standards and chaos.

Today, we are like those who occasioned not to listen to the judges ...and prefer to do what is right in our own eyes.

And also today, I see a sort of proper-ness assigned to the blame game, with certain ones who have seen that improvement is needed in areas of awareness of the feelings of others ...but it almost takes a psychologist's slant to it, blaming others for every behavior.

I used to work with a guy who was called "Coach". I thought he was quite pompous and arrogant.  He told me he was being charged with sexual harassment because he told one of the secretaries that the short dresses they wore were the reason why so many women were raped.  I admitted that I felt I kind of hated him when he told me that ...so, within the hour when he challenged me to a basketball game, I played with more determination than I ever have, to trounce him ...and I did.

But, it didn't serve to quench my disdain towards those with attitudes like his ...nor did I dismiss it, realizing "that's the way the ball bounces."  

Likewise, I have not liked it when I've also heard that an usher in church told one of the elders to speak to a lady about her low-cut dress ...because he thought it was too much temptation. And I also don't buy the fact that if someone has an affair, it is because their spouse has not adequately met their needs.

People also try to justify divorce on what they call irreconcilable differences, and simply reason that everybody should have the right to be happy.  

Some people can blame others too much, and others can blame themselves too much. People fault others for their sadness, their depression, their simple dissatisfaction, and at times for not having others fulfill their wily whims.

What is missing??

While being packaged as the shortcomings of a loved one, the loved one can be excused from any growth, or admission of even the slightest wrongdoing.  Yes, forgiveness and love go hand-in-hand, and should always be clearly present. Yet, it is also vitally important that both, or all should be focused more on God, than their own expectations ...then they could more readily achieve true happiness.  And being more satisfying for others would likely work itself out much more effectively while pleasing God.

If we've failed, it is not so much with each other, or others ...but with God.  Yet, though we need to come to Him, there is something He makes abundantly clear ...that we should reconcile first with each other.  That is much the reason why He has created us here with each other ...to be genuine with our reconciliation, and not pretending we are right with Him, and can achieve our own spiritual heights if others would just not mess it up for us. 

By the way, if you want to tell the tale of a righteous man, there was only One ...Jesus.