We live in a culture of condemnation

As I have fasted condemnation for Lent, I find myself pondering so many things that I might have excused or glossed over. I recently heard John Ortberg say that we live in a culture of condemnation. I thought "No, Duh!"  Not because he was saying the obvious, but because the obvious has become so OBVIOUS to me when it had previously been so hidden.

Our culture breeds condemnation. We live with an us and them mentality.  Which in its own form is condemning someone for not being like me. Not like me because of race.  Not like me because of religious or political affiliation or from making our politics a religion. Not like me because of wealth, education, occupation, creative or not creative.  We are bombarded. The list is never ending.

I once heard that accountants who spent their day looking for errors had brains that became hard wired to search out errors. It became hard for them to look at anything without pointing out the error or flaw.

I found this to be true when I was a part of a church plant straight out of seminary. We spent 6 months visiting churches every week as a staff to get an understanding of church. We would meet after and debrief what we liked and disliked to determine what we wanted to do as a church plant. It was so hard for me after that season to sit and simply worship during church. My brain was in the habit of analyzing instead of worshipping. I had to fight to get my worship back.

It has truly hit me profoundly that I am struggling with condemnation because it is all around me. I literally am having to fight it because it is every where!

I wonder if this is why we are told that GOD did not send HIS SON to CONDEMN the world (John 3:16). Oh boy! We need not forget that!  God sent Jesus to save us not condemn us (John 3:16).

Right now my saving is trying to rewire my brain moment by moment by thinking through every thought and holding it captive.  Yeah, be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rms 12:2).

I know I am not God, but I am asking, "What can save this conversation, thought, or moment? How can I restore what is perceived as broken or worthy of condemnation? How can I see the other or circumstances with eyes that restores, refreshes, awakens, builds, gives, ignites... and speak life into that?

I feel I am failing a thousand times a day still.  But I am so much more aware. I am repenting alot and missing a bunch. But I can feel a change in me. I am a bit more patient in my thoughts than I used to be and as I said before, I am surprised by love I did not know was in me.

Are you willing to ask, "How has the culture of condemnation gotten ahold of my thought patterns and created unholy ruts of destruction?"

Father, help. I need You to reveal the cultural patterns in me and around me that give permission to condemn. You do not condemn us, You seek to save us. Who am I to condemn?  Jesus is the one that died and rose again. Jesus is the One who sits at Your right and and intercedes for us. Help me to join Him in praying instead of condemning. In Jesus' name, amen