Divided We Fall
Sometimes, it feels counterintuitive to our culture to be loving, kind, merciful, and forgiving.
We may not be standing in the town square watching someone being punished or sitting in a colosseum cheering on as gladiators fight to the end, but it seems to me that we still love a good fight.
You can't watch TV, go online, or drive on the freeway without seeing an advertisement from some law firm. They all say pretty much the same thing—you've been wronged, and with their help, you can make them pay and get what you deserve. Vengeance can be yours.
Reality shows fill our screens as we watch the drama play out and spend time dissecting and critiquing every move of the actors on screen. Slander and judgment fill our minds as we laugh at their expense.
Companies make billions creating violent video games and online communities where millions gather to play, and we stand in line and pay top dollar to participate. We reside in virtual places of constant violence.
We comment on celebrities' and politicians' every move, take soundbites out of context, and spew hatred and condemnation with our posts and comments. We jeer, bully, and taunt as malice fills our hearts.
The clickbait hooks us every time.
These messages and images of vengeance, slander, malice, and anger seek to isolate and divide us.
And as history has taught us, divided, we will fall.
But we can work to be better and work towards unity.
Love, mercy, kindness, and forgiveness can be our weapons to fight the powers that lure us into division.
Let's pause before we post, click, share, watch, or listen and ask ourselves what weapons we wield and choose to use the God-given gifts to change the world.
We can love others and find commonality as we seek to understand instead of assuming the worst.
We can show kindness and mercy in person and online.
Rather than thinking of forgiveness as something we do for ourselves or others, we can think of it as something we do for God to help change the world.
Let's fight the good fight together!
Luke 6: 27-31
But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Ephesians 4:31
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Psalm 15: 1-5
Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless,who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from their heart;whose tongue utters no slander,
who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the Lord; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.