Paradigm & Perspective, part 2

Please read “Paradigms and Perspectives part 1” before reading this post.
Why are so many people turned off by Christianity, yet when the author of Christianity walked this earth, the majority of the people loved him and saw him as the way, the truth, and the life? The difference is in perspective, Jesus did not judge a person on the spot (condemn, correct, etc.) unless they were trying to lead people astray. He saw them as lost and needing a shepherd. Many Christians feel it is their duty to judge people and point out their folly on the spot, or treat them in such a way that their judgment is obvious. Their perspective sees themselves, their beliefs, and their behaviors, as “better than” than other person and they treat them accordingly. Say what you want, but that is the truth. A person will hold a more righteous perspective so that they really don’t have to love that person the way Christ demands. Which is more sinful, more hypocritical?! (Matthew 7). I learned what I believe the Lord requires through an extreme example.
When I wore a younger man’s clothes, I served as a chaplain at a Juvenile Jail in Dallas, TX. If these young men were going to see the love of Christ, a judging perspective wasn’t going to work. These kids were very street smart and could spot of fake a mile away. Either I was going to love them from my heart or it was going to be obvious that I was judging them. One day I read in the newspaper how a 16 year-old boy murdered his girlfriend. I knew I would see him the next day. I thought this guy must be a monster… he probably won’t want to see me anyway… he’s probably a beast! Now I had worked with murderers before, but the nature of this crime made me think this guy was somehow worse then the others. The Lord kept working to soften my heart through a song by Susan Ashton called, “Angels of Mercy” which spoke of offering mercy in the midst of an offense. The Lord wanted me to approach this boy as he would, not as I may have. The day came. Briefly stated, the boy was very innocent looking and knew he had made a terrible mistake in a fit of rage. He cried and cried… and wondered what God would do with him. I told of Christ work on the cross and his offer of forgiveness… even to a person who commits murder. He reconciled with God, we prayed, and we hugged before I sent him back to his cell. I must say, having his hands around me, knowing what those hands had done just a day prior, was a strange thing.
Now here’s what I learned through that experience… my paradigm can stay the same even as my perspective changes. I never forfeited my beliefs that this young man should be punished… probably life in prison, and if the death penalty is the verdict, so be it. His crime must be punished (Rom. 13); however, there is an earthly judge who has the responsibility of carrying that out and I’m not that person. I was called to love him and to tell that him of God’s plan of forgiveness. Now, this an example of when I got it right, but many, many times I’ve failed to respond in a Christ like manner.
How do you respond to a person clearly living an ungodly life? How do you respond when it is revealed that a friend has been struggling with pornography, or has been having an affair? How do you respond when your child disobeys, is been caught using drugs, or having premarital sex? How do you respond when a friend chooses to worship in a more contemporary manner or holds to a different end-times view than you? Your ability to be flexible in your perspective while you hold firm to your paradigm not only reveals your Christ-like character, or lack of, but it also reveals your mental health. Rigidity is a sign of poor mental health. Once again, Christ is a great example of this. His ability to respond in a flexible, unpredictable manner is amazing! May the Spirit lead you in your processing of these two posts.