"Two things," it has been said, "are not of our business--to make people good and to punish them for being bad." Many religious people make themselves obnoxious, and all the religion of Christ odious, to men by nagging and pulling and scolding and fault-finding and prodding, whether one another, or people of other beliefs, or outsiders. The pity of it is that it is often done with a good deal of self-surrender and honest intent to do God a service; and of course it comes to nothing and worse than nothing. Observe now how Jesus worked. He was no fault-finder. With exceeding gentleness and consideration he dealt with the shortcomings of his disciples. In his addresses to sinners he used infinite tact, such as can be learned by no rule, but which only the sympathetic understanding of love can give. And he never forced or pushed, but rather even restrained when men responded too freely and from false or shallow motive. He was [157] respectful to the lowest sinner. He honored all men, and that especially by paying due deference to their highest right and power--that of choosing for themselves. "There is a sacred circle around every person; respect that circle." Jesus respected it to such an extent that sometimes he appeared almost indifferent--which, decidedly, he was not. He denounced only the hypocrites, the canting, censorious, pretentious Pharisees, who themselves were the greatest tyrants, trying to force others to be that which they themselves were not, binding heavy burdens and grievous to be borne on men's shoulders, which burdens they themselves did not propose to move with their finger.

[TAG 157-158]