Read: 2 Timothy 2:22-26, , Proverbs 17:28, Proverbs 20:3, Ephesians 4:1-16, Colossians 4:2-6, Colossians 3:13-15, Ephesians 4:29, James 3:8-10, Matthew 15:18, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, John 15:12.
My Friend,
It's a trying season for sure whether it's due to health related issues, politics, or other issues.
Any season like this can bring out the absolute best in people and the absolute worst...and for some time now there has been a lot of the latter for sure.
Even without these things, we live in a time where many supposed "Keyboard Warriors" sling their opinions, (as if they are experts on every issue that comes and goes) and if you don't agree with them, you better get ready for an assault of hatred, shaming, finger pointing, character attacking, and name calling to be launched.
Division Ensues:
This is happening for things such as...
Randolph Koch
-Mask wearing Vs. No mask wearing.
-Shelter at home vs some shelter at home vs absolutely not.
-All vaccines vs some vaccines vs absolutely no vaccines.
-Gun control vs no gun control vs somewhere in between.
-One political party vs another.
-Universal health care vs private Healthcare
... And the list of this vs that goes on and on...
It seems at times people have traded what should be adult maturity for adolescent behavior... all while they often hide behind their keyboards.
Harsh Words Are Communicated:
People type away and spout things from their high castles...things that many of us would never say to someone's face...or I hope not!?
People trash talk, name call, label, and launch evil words just because they think their opinion or viewpoint is somehow superior.
It must make the evil one happy to see so much division horrible behavior in word and action...even within the church on these and many more issues.
Let me ask, even if we think our opinion is better, how does it make us better to inflict others with such negative things?
What happened to being OK with respectfully disagreeing with one another without slinging hate toward one another?
People Should Be Valued:
It's sad because I see that supposed friendships end over things like this and you have to ask if they were remotely true friendships in the first place?
Aren't people more valuable than all of this?!
Aren't people who were supposedly our friend(s) more important than this? Or were they only our supposed friend(s) when they didn't have a different viewpoint?
Don't they still have value with or without your and my acceptance and despite our differences?... But instead, you or I may have thrown them away, and for what?
Does It Have To Be This Vs. That?:
In the current state of things and in general, why does it have to be "This vs That" instead of "This and That" about many of these issues or topics?
Let me say here and now that it doesn't have to be this way!
The fact is that we will never be the same or completely agree on every issue and that's completely OK...or it should be.
We need to be wise in what we engage on or as the old saying goes, "pick your battles wisely".
There are many things that can be seen as "This and That" or we can stay neutral on.
Kindness Please?! (We Represent Jesus!) :
What we need is more people being good and kind toward one another...even those with whom we disagree. This doesn't mean you can't have and voice your views, and it doesn't mean you will necessarily or ever be best friends with each other, but, it does mean you should respect and value one another despite your differences.
We need less hatred, shaming, harsh words spoken, and division. In its place we need more kindness and acceptance. We need more kind words spoken, (or how about not saying anything at times if you have nothing nice to say?), and we need more love and unity! Or if not unity, at least civility.
We are welcome to have and respectfully express our opinions and viewpoints but, I believe that we show our strength more as we come together as unique people as we listen and lift others up instead of tear them down.
Anyone can tear others down but it takes truly mature and special people to instead build one another up.
To be clear, there are also times where we need to be bold and share the truth but we better have clear direction from The Lord regarding when we are to do that and we again, need to speak the truth in love.
Even if we disagree with one another, we need to be good human beings, listen to those we don't agree with and show a little kindness and respect. Or, if we can't handle it then we should be mature enough to not engage with others in the specific conversations.
Even more important is that we as followers of Christ seek to live in a way that represents Jesus well, in an honoring way because we are His ambassadors and we're to speak the truth but in love.
Sometime Silence Is The Best:
I'd suggest there are times when we might choose to be silent on some non-essential issues so we don't add to further division and strife.
We Need To Do Better:
We as followers of Christ need to do better. We need to behave better. We need to represent Jesus better in all these things.
May we pause to consider how we're representing Him, especially in these crazy times we're living in, in Jesus name. May we ask for The Lord's helping in how we can do better and when we should speak up or remain silent.
Your brother and servant in Christ,
Randolph Koch
Please Note: This article was geared toward general issues and behaviors I've observed many times. This also isn't speaking to condoning sinful behavior or anything like that but on general issues, non-essential issues, non-salvation issues, things that are possibly neutral in alignment to God's Word, that we find a better more biblical way to communicate.
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