Redemption Thinking

Today, a thought occurred to me.  It may be common knowledge to a lot of the people that I know, but I think it finally just clicked in my head, so I'd like to type it out so I don't forget about it.

I analyze people.  A lot.  I observe how they act and I come to conclusions, whether correct or not, about how they think and what makes them think that way.  Oftentimes, I'm right.  But that isn't always a good thing, because it leads me to judge people.  Instead of accepting a comment at face value, I analyze and judge the motives behind it, and discover or decide that a person's motives are less than pure.  And though sometimes I might be right, and I do seem to have a knack for picking out people's issues and downfalls, it is not my place to judge them.

I struggle with this.  I struggle with loving those who I see as fake, insincere, or just plain bad.  It is the part of me that naturally favors truth over love.  Why should I be kind to someone who does not merit any kindness?

Enter:  Redemption Thinking.

Today I was thinking about New Heaven and New Earth, and how they are free from sin.  That means I won't be flawed any more.  I won't have baggage dragging me down.  I won't be self-conscious or insecure, or trying to impress anyone or even face the temptation to be selfish.  It will be great!  I won't have problems any more.  And those around me won't have problems either.  We will live and work in joyful harmony.

That is pretty amazing.  That is the power of redemption.  God loved us enough to send His son to die so that we could be His heirs, and one day be free from sin.  One day.  That means that here and now there is still sin, and no one is perfect - myself included!  So I'm really not very different from the people around me that I feel tempted to judge, am I?  We are all sinners.  I know that.  So why should I be kind to someone who doesn't merit kindness?  Because none of us deserve kindness.  Not a single person on earth is that righteous on their own.

So today I learned that the only way to look at others kindly is to look through the lens of redemption (or as I now call it, Redemption Thinking).  My friends who are Christians may have sins and struggles, just like I do - but they have accepted God's grace and will one day be made new.  What place have I to judge?  They are awaiting that perfection the same way I am.  And my friends who are not Christians have sins and struggles too, but more than anything else they are in need of God's grace, so that they can one day be made new also.  Again, what place have I to judge?  Not only that, but why would I waste time judging them when I could be reaching out to show them love and compassion, and be God's tool to lead them to Him?  When I look at others through the lens of redemption, there are only two ways to see people:  Free from sin; and in need of freedom.  Why would I not be kind?


I still think there is value in the way I analyze others.  I can see where people struggle and it helps me know how to advise them and point them in better directions.  Having an idea of how someone thinks also helps me know where to be cautious in relationships, and who to trust.  That is good - healthy, even.  There is a difference, then, between observing and learning from those observations, and observing and judging.  The first can work together with Redemption Thinking, the second leaves no room for it.  So when I analyze, I must always do so with caution.

And when I interact with others, whether analyzing or not, I want to interact using Redemption Thinking.

An Apology and A Hope

Because I can't make any promises.

Well, it's been a while.  In fact, it's been almost three months since I last posted on here - almost immediately after promising a weekly posting system.  Well, I take full responsibility for that.  Obviously.  It's my blog.  I can blame my lack of writing on school, on social life, on lack of inspiration - whatever was stopping me on each individual day.  But the bottom line is that I stopped blogging, and when I did, I stopped taking the time to sit down and process my own ideas.  When I did that, I effectively lost a little bit of myself.  Not a lot, but enough that I realized I miss it, and I want it back.  I want to be my full self, and that includes writing about stuff.  Yeah, stuff.  I never quite know what I'll be writing about, but I want to keep writing.  I'm still discovering myself in a lot of ways, and I know blogging helps me to do so.  So here I am, back in the blogsphere.  Begging forgiveness for my absence (not that anyone noticed, or cared, but I'd like to think it's still worth apologizing) and presenting my current hope.

My hope is that I will get back on track with blogging this week, and continue on that track when my second semester begins next week.  I'd like to post at least once a week, like I said I would back in September.  Staying true to the original format of this blog, posts will be random and inexplicable, and cover a plethora of topics.  All I can say is, they will be me.  I present this as a hope because I prefer not to make a promise on which I cannot deliver.  I have no idea what this next chunk of my life will hold.  I can't promise that I'll always be able to post.  But I hope that I will.  I want to.

And with that, I begin the re-entering.  And bid Blogger a wonderful night.