In our legal system, there is the presumption of innocence, where a person is considered “innocent until proven guilty.” There must be evidence that proves guilt before a “guilty” verdict can be announced.
Do you give people the same privilege when they interact with you? Do you presume someone is guilty and their innocence has to be proven, or do you presume someone is innocent until their guilt is obvious? Based upon another phrase from the legal system, do you give a person the benefit of the doubt in things that they say and do?
This is a hard thing to practice. But consider two things. (1) Agape love “believes all things” (1 Cor. 13:7). That doesn’t mean to be gullible, but it means to be eager to believe the best and not inclined to be suspicious. Remember that God is agape love (1 John 4:8)—He gives us the benefit of the doubt. (2) Don’t we want others to presume our innocence and give us the benefit of the doubt, until proven otherwise? The Golden Rule (Luke 6:31) demands that we give them the same privilege first!