Are We Living A Christ-Centered or A Self-Centered Life?

Today's Sunday School lesson was on forgiving and not judging others and how, if we expect to be forgiven of our mistakes, we too must forgive others of theirs. Because we all make mistakes, right? It is not up to us to decide who gets to be forgiven and who doesn't. We are to forgive all men. It was a beautiful lesson.

The part that stuck out to me, though, was a comment made by a woman in the congregation. She said either we live a Christ-centered life or a self-centered life. If we're living a Christ-centered life, then we are striving to be like the Savior and are loving and forgiving of others, because of course no one is perfect, and because that is how the Savior lived. We're less likely to judge and criticize; we never truly know other's circumstances or their reasons for doing things. We love freely.

However, on the opposite end of the spectrum, if we're living a self-centered life, then we may be less likely to forgive and quicker to judge because we are only thinking of ourselves and aren't showing Christ-like love. I am not putting it as eloquently as she did, but I think this was the general idea.

I just love the idea of striving to live a Christ-centered life -- to be as quick to forgive as children are; to love others, even if it might be hard; and to not judge others -- period. As Elder Uckhdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in his amazing talk on not judging others: "When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it! It's that simple." If you want to read his talk, you can do so here.

Oh, I love it.

This is my absolute favorite part of his talk, a "self-test": (Easier said than done, but I am trying.)

My dear brothers and sisters, consider the following questions as a self-test:

Do you harbor a grudge against someone else?

Do you gossip, even when what you say may be true?

Do you exclude, push away, or punish others because of something they have done?

Do you secretly envy another?

Do you wish to cause harm to someone?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may want to apply the two-word sermon from earlier: stop it!

In a world of accusations and unfriendliness, it is easy to gather and cast stones. But before we do so, let us remember the words of the One who is our Master and model: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.”¹²

Brothers and sisters, let us put down our stones.

Let us be kind.

Let us forgive.

Let us talk peacefully with each other.

Let the love of God fill our hearts.

“Let us do good unto all men.”¹³

What beautiful words, and what a beautiful way to live! Lovely message today!