Look At People As Broken Instead Of Bad

Luke 17:11-19, “And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”

I learned a life changing truth a long time ago from Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001), that we should look at people as broken instead of bad. People need the Lord.

I often am reminded of the true story of ten lepers in the Holy Bible whom Jesus healed of their horrible disease. Few people understand how horrifying having leprosy meant for someone living in history past, before the miracle of modern medicine. ...

For millennia, a diagnosis of leprosy meant a life sentence of social isolation. People afflicted with the condition now known as Hansen’s disease—a bacterial infection that ravages the skin and nerves and can cause painful deformities—were typically ripped from their families, showered with prejudice and cruelly exiled into life-long quarantine.

Jesus in mercy healed these ten afflicted men, Astonishingly, only one bothered to return to thank the dear Savior. Things haven't changed in 2,000 years. People today in 2024 are just as ungrateful, unkind and cold toward people who help them. I gave a homeless African American man $40 and  Gospel of John. He was ungrateful and asked me for more, but I told him that he had enough already.

Those ten lepers were afflicted by something much worse than leprosy, they didn't have the fear of God in their souls. They didn't appreciate the Savior, nor the good things provided to them by God. There is a direct link between one's gratitude toward God and repentance (Romans 2:4). Romans 1:21, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

But when I think about those ten lepers, I don't view them as bad men; but rather, broken men. American society today is filled with ungrateful sinners who know not God. They don't want the knowledge of God (Romans 1:28). That is why we see nature documentaries on YouTube by atheists who teach that two rocks slammed into each other to form the earth and moon. The Bible plainly teaches that God formed the moon, stars and planets (Psalms 8:3-4). Evolution is a lie of Satan. Astronomy that tries to explain the origin of the earth and universe without God is evil nonsense. Yet, wicked fools teach these baseless lies as if it were a fact of science.

I encourage you dear reader to join me in viewing people as broken rather than bad. When a Rolex watch breaks people don't say it is bad and throw it away. No, they say it is broken and pay to have it repaired. If we view people as being bad, then we tend to write them off. That is not a good attitude to have. However, if we view troublesome people as broken, then we ought to pray for them and seek to help them with a spirit of meekness (Galatians 6:1-2).

We've all been hurt by others. I've heard numerous people talk about how rotten people are these days, and some of them sure are rotten. But if we always keep in mind that they are not right with God, and likely not even saved, then it will compel us to have compassion and love for them. I refuse to hate people. Unsaved people are simply behaving the way they should, like total heathens. As a child of God, I have been redeemed and know better. So, God expects more from me. To whom much is given, of the same much shall be required, the Bible says. I choose to forgive and love people, rather than hate and give up on humanity.