“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”. Matthew 7:1

In the course of my reading for my PhD, I end updown all sorts of rabbit holes and come across all sorts of interesting and thought-provoking papers and terms. The latest one is the term “Yuck Factor.”
The “Yuck Factor” describes our gut-level reactions to certain moral situations. It’s often our immediate emotional response to things that to us seem inherently wrong. However, when we look at the life of Jesus, we see a different approach. Jesus didn’t have much of a gag reflex when it came to interacting with people who were the untouchables of his day.

Whether it was a controversial encounter with a marginalised individual or a heated debate over justice, Jesus was drawn to those whom society often pushed aside. Meanwhile, the Pharisees were the ones who found themselves repulsed.

Interestingly, Jesus did express nausea, but it was directed towards self-righteousness and hypocrisy rather than those deemed “untouchable” by societal standards. Whenever I find myself saying “yuck” and gagging, it’s often a reminder of my own shortcomings, self-righteous tendencies, and my all too quickness to judge.
As followers of Christ, we are called to extend grace, compassion, love and mercy, looking into the eyes of those we might otherwise judge. Instead of burning bridges and saying yuck, let’s focus on building them.
May we all strive to walk the path of grace, compassion, mercy and love, reaching out to those whom society often overlooks, just as Jesus did.

Dean Gavin