Getting to know you

I just recently finished reading Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. I really enjoyed it and found Miller's style and honesty so refreshing.

In a chapter on love he wrote the following which really stuck with me:

"Nobody will listen to you unless they sense you like them."

It really struck me that often as Christians we judge or condemn people without even first getting to know them on any level. It's so easy to be self-righteous without finding out why something is the way it is or why a person has acted in a certain way.

Is it any wonder certain people want nothing to do with Christians if all they ever hear is condemnation? We need to build more bridges, instead of continually burning them.