That Infamous Log
“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (New American Standard Version, Matt. 7.5). We are all quite familiar with this verse – or at least this concept. Even non-Christians with no Biblical knowledge are well acquainted with this idea. Numerous countries around the globe have proverbs that either literally translate this verse or allude to this similar meaning. This is what I think about when I ponder over what C.S. Lewis wrote about reading old books and allowing them to point out the mistakes of present time (152). Coming from an entirely different culture from 21st Century Evangelical America, I am familiar with making comparisons between different cultures of the same century and being able to see the different strengths and weaknesses of each culture. Therefore, bringing time into the equation only helped to enhance this concept even more. However, there is one other thing about cultural differences that has the ability to do more than merely point out faults within a culture for the purpose of correction, and that is to realize that despite all the cultural differences that can be clearly observed, human nature remains the same regardless of time or geography.
Other people’s mistakes are always easy to point out. They are obvious to us. When it comes to culture, we often approach other cultures with a set of preconceived notions that they are either superior of inferior. We tend to draw stereotypes and clump people together – we are quick to make conclusive statements of culture. Lewis’ admonition to become aware of our own cultural faults calls awareness to that log which blinds us from our own faults so we can remove it and do something about it. Nevertheless, as important as it may be for us to recognize when and where culture has gone wrong and how it can stand corrected, it is more important to the individual that we realize that every culture deals with the same thing. Every culture has its lazy people and its hardworking people – its good and bad apples. Every culture is made up of fallen, sinful individuals, and the reason that cultures differ is simply because each culture has its own way of attempting to deal with original sin.
When we are able to look beyond these cultural differences and see the individuals not as “American” or “Asian” or “African” but as people, the cultural barriers fall away and we are able to relate with one another with a whole different level of understanding. When the “cultural log” is removed, the individual’s log will also be removed and other people’s specks will cease to matter as well. Therefore while reading old books may be beneficial in helping us deal with the blindness we have towards our own culture, they are even more beneficial when they help us to see our own personal blindness. When we are able to see the distinctive similarities between ourselves and the individuals of another time (or place) and recognize that we are all nothing more than sinful people in need of a Savior, the methods and ideologies cease to matter as much and we are able to be content in the fact that all the hopeless cultures that have come and gone were not hopeless after all because of what Christ did on the cross, and all the present cultures across the world and in the future, likewise, have a hope.
Works Cited
Veith Gene Edward Jr. Reading Between the Lines: A Christian Guide to Literature. Illinois: Crossway Books, 1990. Print.
Bible, 1971. Reuben A. Olson et al., New American Standard Bible. La Habra, California: Foundation Press Publications, publisher for the Lockman Foundation, 1971. Print.