“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.” Philippians 3:17
National Christian Forensics and Communications Association (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I have spent the last three days, five if you count travel, with my family in Richland, Washington for the National Christian Forensics and Communication Association (NCFCA), Tri-Windy Speech and Debate tournament. My son competed in two speech categories and Lincoln- Douglas debate. However, I think that I was more consumed with this tournament than he was.
These tournaments rely upon community members to be judges for the students. Parents are used to fill in the judging gaps as necessary. Unfortunately, there were a lot of gaps to fill at this tournament, so I spent a lot of time judging. I was responsible for determining winners and losers of debates. I had to place speakers in a ranking order from 1 to 7 or 8. I had to have opinions. I had to have preferences. I had to judge and reveal my conclusions.
After a speech or debate, I was thanked by each competitor for giving my time to come and be a judge for them. They welcomed being judged. While I was there for them, I don’t know if these competitors grasp how much they are impacting the judges that sit before them. Those who judge cannot help but be influenced by those they are judging.
I am two days removed from the competition but I am still lingering over the spoken words from that tournament:
I am still savoring the tears of compassion elicited by words spoken with a quiet, confident, spirit.
I am still smiling in remembrance of the precious lisp of a voice given to a cricket who just wanted to be a butterfly (I Wish I Were a Butterfly).
I am still feeling the empathy that came from a delicate portrayal of mental illness. (The Yellow Wallpaper)
I am still appreciating how two competitors made a caterpillar come to life. (Alice in Wonderland)
I am still awakened to the reality of a child soldier. (War Child: A Child Soldier’s Story)
I am still relishing the tears of laughter from the creativity of an interpretation of Dr. Seuss.
I am still encouraged by the student who endured when his memory failed him. He fought through to the end with courage greater than the comic-book characters he was portraying.
This tournament was ostensibly about the competitors. However, there is always so much more happening when an individual embraces judgment. The judged will inevitably influence the judge. These competitors are learning the skills of the spoken word. These are skills that will assist them in influencing their world for the rest of their lives. However, that influence is not just in the future – I was influenced by their words. These speech and debate tournaments are less about the competitors than they may realize. These competitors are influencing the judging adults that sit before them now because of their willingness to be judged.
If they were not willing to be judged,
they would never influence these adults.
We live in a world resistant to judging. Often, we will try to protect ourselves from judgmental eyes. However, we will never influence a world without embracing judgment. When Paul challenged us to imitate him, he was opening himself up to judgment. We form opinions about Paul’s life because of his challenge; we have to determine if his example is worthy of following. Paul embraced the judgment of others and profoundly influenced the world. If Paul had worried about judgment, he would never have interacted with the world. He would never have spoken publicly. He would never have written letters. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul had a profound influence over the world, because he was willing to be judged.
The world watches all of us.
We can either scorn their judgmental opinions or
we can embrace the opportunity to influence.
Going out into the world is a declaration of our willingness to subject our lives to the judgment of the world.
Are you willing to allow your words to be judged?
Are you willing to allow your decisions to be judged?
Are you willing to allow your beliefs to be judged?
Are you willing to allow your life to be judged?
It is not about us; it is about influencing those who judge. The willingness of those who are willing to be judged are an example to me:
Judge the words I speak;
Judge the words I write;
Judge how I conduct business;
Judge how I have chosen to raise my family;
Judge my faith.
I want to live a life that influences my world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, I embrace the judgment of those who watch. I embrace their judgment because I know that they will be influenced while they evaluate me. May we all be willing to stand before the judging eyes of our world so that we may be profound influences upon those who are watching and listening.
PRAYER: Father, forgive me of my fear of other people’s judgment. Forgive me for relinquishing opportunities to influence this world because I am afraid of a negative reaction. Help me to welcome the evaluation of my life; use my life to influence the world around me. Lord, I pray that you will draw others to your Son, Jesus Christ, through the influence that comes from a willingness to be judged. I pray this in the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen
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