It’s Dangerous For YOU To Text And Drive!

Neal Pollard

Today’s Denver Post revealed the findings of a national study released this week (via AP, 12/9/11, 6-A).  Among the findings are that half of all American drivers between 21-24 have texted while driving, 44% of those between 18-20, 26% of those between 25-34, and nearly 20% of those 35-44.  Overall, almost one in five male and female drivers are texting while driving.  What is telling is that 90% of all interviewed say that they feel unsafe as passengers when someone else is texting or emailing while behind the wheel!  Russ Rader of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says, “Everyone thinks he or she is an above-average driver–it’s all the nuts out there who need educating” (ibid.).

Perhaps it is simply human nature to have a myopic (i.e., lack of clear insight) view of our faults versus others’.  We can see with 20/20 clarity the faults and shortcomings of others while being virtually blind to the same qualities in our own lives.  In fact, we can be hardest on the faults of others with which we struggle most mightily.  While Matthew 7:1-5 is one of the most abused passages in scripture, is this at least in part what Jesus is considering in the matter of unrighteous judgment?  Certainly, we may be looking at a completely unrelated, speck-sized fault from our own beam-sized failure when we engage in hypercriticism and unholy judgment.  Yet, how often are they similar or even identical?

The answer is not letting the sins of others “slide,” to compromise or ignore unrighteousness.  The answer is to temper our criticism and condemnation with humility and self-awareness.   This will help us avoid looking as though we are coming from a “holier than thou” position.  Sin is hideous to God, and it will cost the souls of the majority of mankind (Mat. 7:13-14).  It is so disdainful to God that He cannot look at it (Hab. 1:13).  It cost the life’s blood of the Son He sent to earth to save us from its awful clutches (cf. Ac. 20:28).  But, when we remember that our sin looks equally deplorable in His perfect sight, we will have the compassion and clarity of sight needed to help others fight the same battle we ourselves fight (Gal. 6:1-2).