Sunday Sermonizing: Better Assumptions For Better Judgments
“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilization - these are mortal and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals who we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit.”
We make judgments every day. Is this person someone I like, or someone I don't like? Are they like me or unlike me? Will we get along or would we simply annoy each other?
This is true. We judge. Most of the time it's only mild judgment. Basic relationship navigation. We nearly have to.
But sometimes we judge based on assumption rather than reality. We assume things about people which cause us to judge with unfair severity. Could be your taste in ice cream flavors. Could be something far more serious. Race, gender, and all things that put people on the margins.
Every human stands on the precarious edge of survival judgments and an ever-widening abyss of assumptions, conjecture, prejudice, bigotry, racism, xenophobia, misogyny, war, and genocide.
Sounds like a quick jump. But it's not.
The narrative we tell ourselves about the people around us is important. It begins by changing our assumptions about the people around us to something kinder. Something more Biblical. I'm trying to make better assumptions to I'll make better judgments.
I assume you have something to teach me.
I assume you have more going on in your life than what I know or understand.
I assume you are doing the very best you can with what you have.
I assume you have a unique set of strengths that bring value to the world.
I assume Imago Dei in you.
Better assumptions make for better judgments. Better judgments bring humanity - making for a better world.
