The moment I place myself “up here” and someone else “down here,” lower than me, I have denied my faith. When I look upon any other human being with contempt, I have denied my faith. Regardless of what another’s sins may be, I have my own to repent of.
I must look up to everyone from a lower position, because I must see Christ in them. If I look down on them, I look down on Christ. Pride destroys the soul.
I must judge behaviors, for I must know right from wrong in order to strive for holiness. But I cannot judge souls. Only God knows the hearts of people. Only God judges the soul.
God does not raise us up by looking down on us. He raises us by lowering himself and looking up at us with love. This is what the Christian is called to do, because we are called to follow Christ.
Faith does not last. In Heaven we won’t need faith, for we will see everything. Hope does not last. In Heaven we won’t need hope, for we will have arrived. Only charitable love lasts forever, for God is love. Faith, hope and love; the greatest of these is love.
I cannot look down on others from a genuine vantage point of faith and hope. I can only look up to them in love. Otherwise, my faith and my hope are phony imitations.
“I must judge behaviors, for I must know right from wrong in order to strive for holiness. But I cannot judge souls. Only God knows the hearts of people. Only God judges the soul.” Love this. Excellently stated. Great post!