That said, I'm definitely going to be extra careful about the way I respond to people and situations. Who cares if I'm right or wrong if I act in a way that is hateful and ugly and downright awful. And I'm sorry if I've ever said anything that has ever caused anyone out there to turn away from my God who absolutely is love. What about you? How are your words impacting those around you? Especially those you may not even know are hearing them.
Today I had an interesting experience. I was looking up some info and ran across a random statement by someone who doesn't even know me that was just downright hateful. Now, this person wasn't addressing me...directly. However, what he was accusing "uneducated hillbillies who can't even be trusted to keep their own children alive" of, I'm *guilty* of. Other statements were also made but I won't go on about it. This person is a fellow believer. That made this all the harder to read. First I took offense to it personally. Then I got past that and even chose to forgive and let it go so not to let it get to me. Then I called my sister (because I had to choose to keep breathing!) I appreciate my sis and other friends like her, who maybe don't agree completely with choices I make for me and for my kids. But out of love we talk about those differences and agree to extend grace and love, especially when there is very mixed research if you are willing to look fairly at it all. I told my sister it reminded me of how I might feel reading the hatred in a posting of the KKK. Seriously, it was that laden with pure hatred and "better than thou" wording. Again, keep in mind this person is said to be a believer. It made me sad and embarrassed for them and the fact that the love of Christ was not at all present in this moment. This brings me to another thought regarding the love of Christ. Rob Bell is all over the news right now for his new "heretical" book on the love of God. While I haven't read it and try to be careful of just buying into what every reviewer throws out there, it certainly seems there might be much merit in what is being said about his theology. And I'll admit that is quite dangerous considering it is regarding salvation itself. However, just like the situation I happened across today-in a public forum-many more theologically conservative are approaching Rob Bell and his book and theology in much the same vengeful "better than thou" kind of language that I'm certain was not what Jesus would do. Maybe I'm more sensitive than others to what this looks like to those who do not believe in Jesus because of some of my friends who don't believe and see this kind of thing and say it is proof enough that this whole Bible thing isn't truth. Maybe it's because we've been the bearer of many hateful vengeful words from those within the church who were supposed to be brothers and sisters and I saw how to those outside the church it only drove them further away. All I know is it is discouraging. We (and sadly I know I'm included in this more than I care to admit!) go around building up ourselves at the expense of proving we are right and tearing others down. All this fighting must be so great for the enemy of the Lord. The Bible says Satan prowls around like a lion looking for who he can devour. Well friends, too often he doesn't even have to come after me or others in the church. We effectively devour each other, and in turn ourselves.
That said, I'm definitely going to be extra careful about the way I respond to people and situations. Who cares if I'm right or wrong if I act in a way that is hateful and ugly and downright awful. And I'm sorry if I've ever said anything that has ever caused anyone out there to turn away from my God who absolutely is love. What about you? How are your words impacting those around you? Especially those you may not even know are hearing them.
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AuthorsCarolyn & (sometimes) Ty Archives
March 2016
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