There were once two young boys.
When they were school-aged, their parents chose to put them into a normal local school. After half a semester; however, several students in the class were transferring to another school since their grades were not ideal.
The two boys, in the same class, lived very close to each other. However, one boy got perfect grades while the other's grades were only so-so. The second boy's parents wondered if transferring to a new school would help, since the first boy's grades were good. Finally, they decided to transfer their son, who kept transferring even after that.
When the boys started third grade, the first boy was still at the same school with good grades, despite the fact an old math teacher, who sometimes made mistakes, was still teaching in the school. His parents asked him if he would be happy transferring to a school with better teachers; but, he answered them earnestly and said that it didn't matter if the teachers were perfect or not as long as he paid attention to them, since they were the teachers.
Three years later, the boy started middle school with the best score in the district. Another three years and another remarkable grade later, he was enrolled in a provincial level high school. Finally, even though his high school grades were not the best, he started college another three years later and scored more good grades.
The second boy, however, kept transferring to supposedly better schools where students generally had good grades. His belief was that if the students had good grades then the school must be good. He transferred throughout primary school and middle school; but, he never got into high school.
Put simply, the first boy had success because he focused on the teachers and worked hard. The second boy looked at those around him instead, blaming them for his poor grades which lead to his situation.
One day, shortly after I had become a Christian, I was telling my parents about God. My mother pointed all the people in the village who believed in Jesus and told me how they lived. I told her that we believe in the true and living God, Jesus, not a person. It is like how a student learns from teachers, not judging their success by other students.
My parents both believe in God now. One accepted Him last year, and the other two years ago. Whenever we hear things like "Some Christians do this. . . " while evangelizing, I tell the speaker that Jesus brings salvation to sinners, which we need because we are not good. We believe in the Gospel, which is Christ, and focus on the Lord, not a human.
No one is perfect in this world, not even Christians.
As students, our classmates' grades can of course be a reference, but not the main goal of why we study. As Christians, the words and deeds of others can be a similar reference for us; but, it should not be the excuse or reason for our beliefs.
The Bible says that not one single person is perfect. Even Christians are sinners. If we look at people in the church, we will all stumble. The reason God brings us together is for us to get along and help each other move forward, not to attack and hinder each other. That would make Him sad. So, when we see the shortcomings of others, we need to love them, point the mistakes out to them in person, and offer our prayers to better walk the road ahead of us. This is the way to please God. If life is a race, the only way to win is to unify our hearts and eyes, look to Jesus as the pioneer and perfector, and strive for Him.
(The author of the article is a volunteer worker in Xiasha Rock Church in Hangzhou.)
Translated by: Grace Hubl
