Handwriting

When I was a teen, I found some books in the library on “graphology,” the art of handwriting analysis. This is not the same thing as graphanalysis, the forensic science that determines if a signature is a forgery. Graphology is the practice of determining personality and character traits through handwriting samples. I enjoyed reading the and analyzing my own handwriting, but even as a teen, I could tell that it was hokey. If your handwriting slanted to the left, it said, you were shy and reserved, and likewise, if it slated to the right, you were outgoing. How could that be? What if you just learned to write one way or another, as we all did when penmanship lessons were the standard in schools? How could internal traits be determined just by how you wrote?

Sure enough, through time and research, graphology has been cast aside and categorized as “pseudoscience.” Nonetheless, even today, there are scores of books and websites claiming graphology to be a valid method of determining psychological states and personality traits. Like the books I read back then (and, I’m assuming, the books that are out now), these websites sound very convincing and legit. 

Within Christianity, there are countless false beliefs that circulate, and many of the people promoting these beliefs sound very convincing, probably because they are genuinely convinced that they speak the truth. They use verses and commentaries and sermons to support their claims. And they can sound very convincing. 

Sadly, this practice has been going on for as long as Christendom has been around. In Galatians 2, Titus, a Gentile believer, had decided not to get circumcised, but his decision created conflict as there were those who were spreading the belief that circumcision was essential in order to follow God. 

“This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.” Gal 2:4-5

Paul has an answer for this. First, he calls them “false believers,” a harsh title. Then he speaks of freedom and slavery. Yes—we have been made free in Christ, so that we are not slaves to rituals and rules. Belief in Christ and being in relationship with Him in all aspects of our lives—these things are what is necessary to genuinely follow Christ and to be with Him in glory.

Time and time again, Christians have put themselves and others under slavery with rules and rituals. You’re not a real Christian if you don’t do X, Y, and Z, or if you do X, Y, and Z. It is just another way to judge, to feel superior to others, when the truth is that we are all—all of us—sinners and in need of the redemption of our risen Lord. 

We can all protect ourselves from false beliefs by studying the Bible, meditating, and constant prayer—being in constant communication with God. One of the most freeing things about Christianity is that each relationship with God is unique. So there will be things that I personally need to avoid, because these things are not beneficial for me, but you can do these things and they don’t interfere with your communion with God. And vice versa. 

Extending grace is the opposite of judging others. It can also lead to discussions with other believers on what they do and what they avoid and why. We can all learn and grow from each other as believers, iron sharpening iron. But we can’t do this by judging others because they do things differently.

I hope to be better at extending grace and asking questions instead of making snap judgements. There are enough judgmental people out in the world (even though they are the ones yelling most loudly about “judgmental Christians—but that is a topic for another day), we don’t need to be judging each other as believers.

This is my handwriting sample, for anyone who wants to analyze it. Haha.