Americans have...
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Americans have over-inflated images about themselves. Psychologists have discerned a cognitive bias termed illusory superiority that most of us share, a tendency to overestimate our qualities and abilities. As a result we are rather judgmental of the morality of others (though not our own). A 2010 Gallup poll found 76% of Americans thought the state of morality in American was declining (implying that theirs was better than everybody else's). And a 2012 Rasmussen poll found that 65% of the public believes that we are too generous with the way we administer welfare. But Jesus calls on us to put up with such difficult people (because we are not much better than they are).
With reference to this matter John Wesley writes:
Speak all the good you can to and of them who speak all evil to and of you.
(Commentary on the Bible, p. 408)
Mother Teresa offered advice in a similar spirit:
So spread your love everywhere you go. We can always do more. What we've done so far for our God is not much.
And in case we miss from these quotes how little we have done in doing good to difficult people, Martin Luther reminds us how little we do for others compared with what God has done for us and regarding how little we deserve it:
What heart would not cheerfully render all good things to him[God] who has shown us such love... upon wicked and despairing people, that is, upon the whole world, which means all people who never did anything good... Should we not all rejoice and be glad of heart.
(Complete Sermons, Vol. 2/1, pp. 357-358)
Our Lord God must be a devout man to be able to love knaves. I can't do it, although I am myself a knave.
(Luther's Works, Vol. 54. p. 32)
With reference to this matter John Wesley writes:
Speak all the good you can to and of them who speak all evil to and of you.
(Commentary on the Bible, p. 408)
Mother Teresa offered advice in a similar spirit:
So spread your love everywhere you go. We can always do more. What we've done so far for our God is not much.
And in case we miss from these quotes how little we have done in doing good to difficult people, Martin Luther reminds us how little we do for others compared with what God has done for us and regarding how little we deserve it:
What heart would not cheerfully render all good things to him[God] who has shown us such love... upon wicked and despairing people, that is, upon the whole world, which means all people who never did anything good... Should we not all rejoice and be glad of heart.
(Complete Sermons, Vol. 2/1, pp. 357-358)
Our Lord God must be a devout man to be able to love knaves. I can't do it, although I am myself a knave.
(Luther's Works, Vol. 54. p. 32)
