Assumptions and Judging

by Jim Roberts, Deacon

Our home life group continues to study the book of Joshua to learn lessons of how to navigate the challenges of the Christian life.  Lessons of faith and courage are clear as well as the judgment that follows compromise and hardened hearts.  At the end of Joshua, in chapter 22, is an interesting story that teaches us about making assumptions and judging one another.  The land is finally at peace after a generation of war.  The warriors of the tribes that had been granted land east of the Jordan are returning home to their families.  As they prepare to cross from the west to the east side of the Jordan they think “Hey, let’s build a monument to remind us and our brothers from the other tribes that we are all one people”.  Great idea, right?  Not so great.  The rest of the tribes see the monument and assume it is an altar for sacrifice – like the pagan nations they have just conquered had throughout the land.  The western tribes assume the worst and then decide they have to go to war with the eastern tribes – after all, God told them to destroy all the pagan altars.  How often do we act like this with our Christian brothers and sisters.  We see some sort of activity or behavior and assume the worst.  We judge them based on assumptions and then, sure of our righteous position, we go to battle against them in our hearts and minds.  In the case of the Israelites the armies came together ready to fight.  Fortunately, they talked a bit before warfare started and the western tribes heard the true story.  The eastern tribes build a monument of remembrance – something to remind all the tribes that they are a unified nation even though they are separated by the Jordan River.  The westerners said “Oh, is that what it means?  Sorry, our bad.”   This one worked out because there was some dialogue, albeit a bit later than what should have happened.  Our lesson here is twofold.  Do not judge based on your assumptions and assumed righteousness.  And always make the effort to understand the intentions and perspective of others, especially those in the body of Christ.
"Let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." Galatians 6:10