"Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly."
John 7:24
Image generated with the assistance of Microsoft Word
It's
a common human tendency to judge others based on past behaviours, holding onto
those judgments as if they are indelible marks on a person's character. This
perspective, while seemingly justified by past experiences, often fails to
acknowledge the profound capacity for change that each person holds.
Psychological concepts like confirmation bias, the fundamental attribution
error, and conservatism bias illuminate why we might cling to outdated views of
someone. These biases can cloud our judgment, leading us to overlook the
evidence of personal growth and change.
Confirmation
bias, for instance, prompts us to favour information that confirms our
pre-existing beliefs. When it comes to personal relationships, if we've formed
a negative opinion of someone based on past actions, we're likely to focus on behaviours
that reinforce our view, ignoring any signs of change or improvement.
Similarly, the fundamental attribution error can cause us to attribute
someone's past mistakes strictly to their character, dismissing the
circumstances that might have influenced those actions. Conservatism bias
further entrenches these judgments, as we resist updating our beliefs even when
new evidence suggests a person has changed.
This
clinging to past perceptions not only stifles our ability to see others as they
are now but also limiting our interactions to a narrow, often outdated
narrative. It's here that the Biblical admonition to forgive becomes profoundly
relevant. Forgiveness is not just an act of mercy towards others; it's a
liberation for us. It allows us to shed the weight of past grievances and
acknowledge the possibility of change, both in others and ourselves.
The
concept of divine grace in Christianity deepens this discussion. Grace is
fundamentally about unearned favour. It's the idea that we are given what we do
not deserve. If we accept that grace is a gift freely given to us, it
challenges us to extend the same grace to others. Recognizing that people are
at various levels of maturity and that everyone is on a unique journey toward
personal growth can help us hold our judgments more loosely.
When
we apply this understanding, we see that everyone, including ourselves, is
evolving. Someone who may have wronged us years ago might no longer be the same
person today. Holding them in the prison of their past not only denies them the
chance to demonstrate their growth but also prevents us from experiencing the
fullness of our relationships. It locks us into a static view of a dynamic
world.
In
essence, embracing forgiveness and recognizing divine grace reflect our
acknowledgment of human potential—the potential to grow, to change, and to move
closer to the ideals we strive towards. In practical terms, this means giving
others the chance to show us who they have become, rather than who they were.
It means looking at our interactions as opportunities to witness the unfolding
of each other's journeys, rather than as chances to confirm old biases.
Therefore,
let us strive to approach each other with a spirit of grace and forgiveness,
recognizing that each day gives us all a chance to be better than we were
before. In doing so, we not only foster a more compassionate and understanding
world, but we also mirror the very essence of what it means to live out our
faith.
Nursing Old Biases
"Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly."
John 7:24
Image generated with the assistance of Microsoft Word
It's a common human tendency to judge others based on past behaviours, holding onto those judgments as if they are indelible marks on a person's character. This perspective, while seemingly justified by past experiences, often fails to acknowledge the profound capacity for change that each person holds. Psychological concepts like confirmation bias, the fundamental attribution error, and conservatism bias illuminate why we might cling to outdated views of someone. These biases can cloud our judgment, leading us to overlook the evidence of personal growth and change.
Confirmation bias, for instance, prompts us to favour information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs. When it comes to personal relationships, if we've formed a negative opinion of someone based on past actions, we're likely to focus on behaviours that reinforce our view, ignoring any signs of change or improvement. Similarly, the fundamental attribution error can cause us to attribute someone's past mistakes strictly to their character, dismissing the circumstances that might have influenced those actions. Conservatism bias further entrenches these judgments, as we resist updating our beliefs even when new evidence suggests a person has changed.
This clinging to past perceptions not only stifles our ability to see others as they are now but also limiting our interactions to a narrow, often outdated narrative. It's here that the Biblical admonition to forgive becomes profoundly relevant. Forgiveness is not just an act of mercy towards others; it's a liberation for us. It allows us to shed the weight of past grievances and acknowledge the possibility of change, both in others and ourselves.
The concept of divine grace in Christianity deepens this discussion. Grace is fundamentally about unearned favour. It's the idea that we are given what we do not deserve. If we accept that grace is a gift freely given to us, it challenges us to extend the same grace to others. Recognizing that people are at various levels of maturity and that everyone is on a unique journey toward personal growth can help us hold our judgments more loosely.
When we apply this understanding, we see that everyone, including ourselves, is evolving. Someone who may have wronged us years ago might no longer be the same person today. Holding them in the prison of their past not only denies them the chance to demonstrate their growth but also prevents us from experiencing the fullness of our relationships. It locks us into a static view of a dynamic world.
In essence, embracing forgiveness and recognizing divine grace reflect our acknowledgment of human potential—the potential to grow, to change, and to move closer to the ideals we strive towards. In practical terms, this means giving others the chance to show us who they have become, rather than who they were. It means looking at our interactions as opportunities to witness the unfolding of each other's journeys, rather than as chances to confirm old biases.
Therefore, let us strive to approach each other with a spirit of grace and forgiveness, recognizing that each day gives us all a chance to be better than we were before. In doing so, we not only foster a more compassionate and understanding world, but we also mirror the very essence of what it means to live out our faith.