Wednesday, March 2, 2022
by Reverend Dan on March 2, 2022When I watch the news on TV or see video clips on the internet, it appears many people have lost the ability to have a healthy and productive conversation. Emotions go from 0-100 mph in two seconds. The hairs on the back of people’s necks stand up and they become defensive. The issue itself become secondary as they turn away from the topic at hand and refocus their attacks on anyone with a view different from theirs. Both sides label the other as evil, ignorant, and uninformed, simply because they don’t see eye-to-eye. People have lost the ability to “agree to disagree.” It’s part of the entitlement culture we have created where everything has to be “my way”, (better known as “the right way.”)
The sad truth is that people have lost simple respect for humanity. It starts at the top with politicians on both sides of the aisle who embarrass this country in the eyes of the world with the way they speak. It then filters down through the talking heads on just about every TV or radio station or internet blog. And now it is infecting the core and fabric of who we are as a people. And even worse, who we are as a people of faith.
Where is grace? Where is mercy? Where is common human decency? We’re not going to agree with everyone, and they’re not going to agree with us. But that doesn’t mean we have to hate and vilify someone just because they don’t see the world the way we do. And in that is the real issue. We are made to choose, to “take a side.” It’s “us” against “them.”
Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples; if you love one another.” That love is not very evident today. Even in our churches, there are fights and schisms that tear at the foundation of what Christ died to build. Is His blood in vain? I pray not. May we all take a self-inventory of our actions and our words and see if they match the words found in scripture. I think we’d all be surprised at how far we’ve strayed from God’s call to “love our neighbors as ourselves.”
backThe sad truth is that people have lost simple respect for humanity. It starts at the top with politicians on both sides of the aisle who embarrass this country in the eyes of the world with the way they speak. It then filters down through the talking heads on just about every TV or radio station or internet blog. And now it is infecting the core and fabric of who we are as a people. And even worse, who we are as a people of faith.
Where is grace? Where is mercy? Where is common human decency? We’re not going to agree with everyone, and they’re not going to agree with us. But that doesn’t mean we have to hate and vilify someone just because they don’t see the world the way we do. And in that is the real issue. We are made to choose, to “take a side.” It’s “us” against “them.”
Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples; if you love one another.” That love is not very evident today. Even in our churches, there are fights and schisms that tear at the foundation of what Christ died to build. Is His blood in vain? I pray not. May we all take a self-inventory of our actions and our words and see if they match the words found in scripture. I think we’d all be surprised at how far we’ve strayed from God’s call to “love our neighbors as ourselves.”
