When Charity Fails

by Martyn McGeown Introduction The Heidelberg Catechism in its treatment of the ninth commandment, obedience to which is how we show love (charity) to our neighbor, forbids the “falsifying of our neighbor’s words” or “judging the neighbor rashly and unheard.” Sometimes when we hear or read our neighbor’s words, we jump to conclusions: I know what he or she meant, we declare; and then, if charity does not intervene, we pronounce our rash judgments without hearing what the brother or sister...