From the Pulpit: Faith not fear
I sense that the average American is walking on eggshells, fearful of causing an offense that would lead to a coordinated effort to cancel their ideas, values, and beliefs.
It would seem the guiding rule of our culture is to be kind, don’t offend, don’t judge, and practice tolerance in all things. This would be a wonderful culture to live in. However, there is an exception to this rule. If a person feels that you are being unkind, offensive, and judgmental, then it is OK to hate you and judge you and preferably cancel any influence you might have. This means the exception is the rule and is subjective and often interpreted by the loudest voice.
The irreverence and lack of respect that has given the loudest voice authority has ultimately led to a loss of civility in our disagreements. Division is increasing as intimidation becomes a tool of winning the day. This is not new to the human experience. The Apostle Paul writes in a letter to Timothy some encouragement to counter the speech that causes division. “Charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers… But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene” (2 Timothy 2:14-17).
How we define the win makes the difference. Our response matters. If you define the win by getting the other side to shut up and walk away, then winning allows division to spread. If you define the win as making family and friends enemies through harsh words and treatment, then factions and hate increase. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are called to something different. “The whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another” (Galatians 5:14-15). It is OK to work hard to persuade others, but it should be done to win them over not push them away. Our goal is to win people, not the argument.
How? Jesus tells us how. “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28). Love, do good, bless, and pray for the other side of your ideas, beliefs, and values. This is how we start to live by Faith instead of being stuck in fear.
