Here you can see an ancient paved street very similar to what the streets of ancient Rome were probably like.
This street is in the ancient city of Pompeii (from the exact same time period as ancient Rome). The city of Pompeii was buried under layers of ash from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius; while the ancient city of Rome was buried under 2,000 years’ worth of subsequent history. In looking at Pompeii we can get a good idea of what ancient Rome was probably like.
Right off the bat, the thing which stands out about this ancient paved street are the raised stepping stones … allowing pedestrians to cross the street.
The stepping stones were spaced the same distance as the standard width of chariot/cart wheels of the time … that way chariots and carts could drive easily down the road with their wheels passing between the stepping stones.
Now imagine being a cart driver, minding your own business, doing your job for the day as you head down this gently sloping road to deliver your load of grain to the bakery.
The wheels of your cart have just passed through the gap in the stepping stones … when lo and behold! … out of the blue, someone on the sidewalk knocks that big boulder (which you can see front-and-center of the photo) out into the road right as you come clippety-clopping by!
The wheel of your cart hits the boulder!
The wheel shatters to pieces! Your cart flips over! The load of grain you were delivering spills all over the road!
The load of grain is ruined! Your cart is destroyed! The income you would have earned from delivering the grain is now lost. You are banged up and bruised!
In writing to the early Christians living in ancient Rome, the Apostle Paul instructs them: “Stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.” – Romans 14:13
When we are judge-y towards one another it is like tossing a big, huge boulder out into the roadway of someone else’s life.
Life is hard. It’s effort to get up each day and head out to do what God has called us to do.
Just like in the imaginary example above, it is effort to get up each morning, tend to the horses, hook up the cart, load up the heavy grain, navigate the hustle & bustle of traffic in the busy streets, and go about the task of delivering the grain.
The last thing we need is for someone to make it more difficult.
The last thing we need is for someone to toss out a boulder right into our path.
Most of the time when Christians are judge-y towards one another it’s over matters of opinion. It’s over matters of preference. It’s over matters of tradition. It’s over “open handed” issues.
And so … there we are going about our own business, trying our best to live a holy life which pleases God. And suddenly our “cart” (so to speak) hits a big boulder which someone just put in our way. Our “cart” tips! The wheel shatters! We tumble to the ground … getting banged up and bruised! The “load” we were carrying (according to the work God has given us) spills all over the roadway!
The “good reward” for the work we were trying to do for God is lost.
This right here is what happens when Jesus-followers are all judge-y towards one another.
Being judgmental towards others “tips their cart” (so to speak) as they are going about their own business, trying to live a holy life which pleases God.
Being judgmental towards others “shatters their wheels” (so to speak).
Being judgmental towards others sends them “tumbling to the ground” … leaving them banged up and bruised (emotionally and spiritually).
When we are judgmental towards others, the “load” they are carrying (according to the work God has given them to do) is spilled all over the roadway of life! The “good return” (for the kingdom of God) is lost!
The Apostle Paul asks: “Why do you judge your brother? Why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. … So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.
“Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.” – Romans 14:10-13
Paul further says: “Let us make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God …” – Romans 14:19-20
Or in other words: When a fellow Christian comes clippety-clopping down the roadway of life with a “load” on their cart, doing the work God has given them to do … help them! Don’t hinder them.
Make every effort to do what leads to peace!
Make every effort to build your fellow Christian up in their faith.
Don’t be judge-y!
A life which is “marked” by Jesus Christ is a life without judgementalism.
