Jury Duty

Well, I got my first experience with jury duty these last two weeks. I only had to appear and go through the questioning from the attorneys once. It was an interesting experience.

I was one of the jurors who got the opportunity to sit where the actual jury sits and the other 25 or so people sat where the audience for the trial would sit. Around me were 11 other jurors and the prosecuting attorney was asking them questions and then I guess he felt it necessary to make sure he asked everyone of the twelve a question.

Here is what stood out with the question that he asked me. He said, "It says on your questionnaire that you are a minister. Is that correct?" I of course answered, "Yes." Then he asked me an interesting question that we as Christ Followers hear in different ways, "Can you sit in judgement on someone else?" I replied, "Yes." Not only did I think that the question was interesting but when I answered, "Yes" to his question I noticed the lady sitting in front of me jump. Now, that could have been because I answered loudly(we were told to speak loud for the court reporter) but in my mind I thought, "She is thinking that I am some self-righteous, law giving minster that condemns everyone around him."

Throughout scripture we are told to judge -- we are to humbly make right decisions on how people act so that they can be restored to a right relationship with the Father or to celebrate with them as they grow closer to the Father. Isn't it sad that people look at Christ followers as people who condemn instead of people who want so badly to restore?