A few years ago, I wrote a sermon for our Sunday morning chapel service at the hospital. (Actually, there are a bunch of sermons. I’ve been doing this for seven years. But I’m talking about a specific one.)

The texts are from Romans 14:1-12 and Matthew 18:21-35. You can look at them.

In one Paul talks about the differences between making personal choices about what’s helpful for staying focused on God and the deeper absolutes. His punchline? “You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt?”

In the other, Jesus tells a story to illustrate God’s immense forgiveness of us and our corresponding forgiveness of others.

I thought about using parts of my sermon here, which I’ve done often. There are some helpful thoughts.

But when we talk about forgiveness and judging the spiritual behaviors of others, it feels like there’s a need for eye contact and conversation, not a post tossed into the public.

There are so many context questions. There is so much, “but what about?”

Because the varying depth of offenses people commit, the complications of obligations, so much pain that happens from attitudes and systems, we need time and interaction and shared tears to understand and clarify.

So I decided not to add to the burdens of people when I can’t then help share in the tasks of application.

However, I think I can pick up one lesson for myself today.

Why do we treat each other with contempt when each of us will give an account of ourselves to God?