“Don’t judge me” are words that I hear from one of my students almost daily. I usually hear them right before she tells me the latest situation that she has gotten into. I admire this student because she is many things that I am not. She is outgoing, upbeat, loud, friendly and extroverted. She can easily laugh at herself and the crazy things she does. She is open, granted sometimes a little too open, but that is who she is. Because of these characteristics (and because she wants to hear it), she is one of my favorite students and one I will remember for years to come.
But back to her words – don’t judge me. Those are words that I often want to barrow. I have many people who judge me but because I am not like my student they do not know me so they judge me on only what they see. Or better yet, on what they think they see.
One of the areas that I am judged on the most is my occupation. And unfortunately that judgment mostly comes from other Christians. For example, the typical conversation when I meet someone at church is for them to ask me what I do and my reply is that I am a teacher. Their response is a big smile and the next question is always what Christian school do you teach in? Unfortunately the conversation does not last much longer because my answer is I teach in a public high school. There it is, my secret is out. I am a public high school teacher. Remember – don’t judge me.
I am just as shocked as they are. This is not where I was supposed to be. I was supposed to be a veterinarian and running my own clinic by now. But God had other plans. He says in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you…” Well, His plans were not my plans and His plans were not those of other Christians I meet.
So do not judge me because I followed where God lead. Do not judge me because He had called me to be there to pray, to model the fruits of the Spirit, to help and to show “brotherly” love to those who happen to go to public school. Jesus did not spend His time on earth only with those who were blameless. Jesus spent time with sinners. “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples” (Matthew 9:10). In Luke 19:7, “All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner’.” And in Luke 15:1-2, “Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” I am no better than my Lord and Savior so how can I separate myself from the world he placed himself in the middle of?
This is the mission field God has called me to so don’t judge me. And the next time you meet a school teacher do not assume that you know who they are. Most of all don’t judge them because they too may have answered God’s call and work in a public school. Instead of judging us maybe you should ask yourself if you are following where God has called you. And maybe you should take the time to pray for us because we are not alone here and we need God’s help working in this mission field.
No comments:
Post a Comment