"How did I find myself in a better place?
I can’t look down on the frown on the other guy’s face,
'cause when I stoop down low and look him square in the eye
I get a funny feeling I just might be dealing with the face of Christ" --- Chris Rice

Too often, Christians fail to realize one critical fact about their relation to mankind: Christ commanded love. This love extends not only to Christian brothers, as is sometimes mistakenly thought, but to all fallen creatures.

This love is to be unconditional.

"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. " -- Matt. 5:44-48

Our motivation for this love is simple: We must be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect.

"But nobody's perfect," we protest, "especially certain individuals."

The Kingdom of God lies not in one's opinion of another, though we should all "esteem others more highly than [ourselves]." Did Jesus himself not go to the most reprobate of the same group whom He knew would later crucify him? Was it not for these that Christ, in the midst of unbearable torment and separation from God the Father cried out, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do?"

None can fathom the depth of punishment faced by the Son of God who was made to bear all sin for all people for all time.

And yet, he begged mercy for them, looking on them in pity.

"Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities." --- Isaiah 53:11

How then can we, as imitators of this Suffering Servant, look in scorn at any man? Can we, who are no better than fallen mankind, sit in judgment?

Do we presume to sit in judgment not only of those in our same fallen state, but of our Creator's sovereign plan?

Or how simple is it when expressed by Christ thus:

"And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." --- Matt. 25:40

It is our task, as followers of Christ, to mimic Him, do as He commands, and love unconditionally our fellow fallen creatures while we're given the time on this fallen globe.

"His image shown
when we give our lives, our time, our own
to feed, to clothe those in His image we have left alone.

We all, we all wear dignity; it covers the strong, the weak.
We all, we all wear dignity; even the last, the lost, the least

We all, we all wear dignity; God help the blind like me
Finding at last a voice we cry and see with clear unblinking eyes " --- Relient K