Here’s some information from Mayo Clinic: “A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Clouded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult to read, drive a car (especially at night) or see the expression on a friend's face.
“Most cataracts develop slowly and don't disturb your eyesight early on. But with time, cataracts will eventually interfere with your vision.”
Spiritual deception is a phenomenon that grows in a way that closely resembles the development of an eye cataract. It is virtually unnoticeable in its initial stages. But by the time you notice something restricting your vision, you’ve probably been doing a lot of living with a limited clarity that you simply got used to.
Why is a judgmental/resentful/unforgiving attitude hard to see in oneself? I think it is because it plays off of rightly knowing that this or that behavior that’s affected us in indeed wrong. It warrants condemnation which is to declare something wrong or evil and worthy of punishment.
It’s not wrong to condemn sinful behavior. What’s wrong is to condemn sinful people. But what’s the difference? Sinful behavior is worth nothing — zero, and rightly condemned as such. But every human being is immeasurably and intrinsically valuable.
To condemn someone is the effect of lumping together the person with their behavior. It has the effect of diminishing their value to God and to us.
A judgmental assessment condemns not only the wrong but the person as well for foolishly doing the wrong. Mercy, on the other hand — while not condoning the wrong thing done — knows that a precious person has gone awry and has compassion on that person.
“How happy are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7
