- Oct 11, 2020
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What the Church looks like today in social media and the like looks nothing like what the Church should look like.
Luke 6:27-36
"“But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”"
It is becoming all too common for people to know you more for what you are against than what you are for. A topic will come up, such as egalitarian vs complementarian, and then all of a sudden everyone loses their minds and people forget how to talk to other people with "gentleness and respect" and everyone is an expert. And it is usually that people do not make a strong case for what they believe, but rather are bent on tearing down other people's views. I see it all the time. Then, a week later, that issue is completely forgotten about and there is another controversial topic that comes up that suddenly everyone is an expert on. And the cycle continues.
We are not going to be experts on every issue. People specialize. Some people do not have the luxury to study every issue so they must study what they can. I know for myself, even though I would never consider myself an expert on this that I tend to sink more time into determinism and free will than other things. I do have other issues on the back burner that I want to look at eventually, but as of right now, this issue is very important to me.
Let us be the kind of people who do not need to weigh in on everything. Let us be the kind of people who will give our interlocutors a drink of water if they are thirsty. I am by no means an expert at this and I have a long way to go. Still, people should know you much more based on what you are for than what you are against. There are times when you have to call people out (such as in the case of Herod and John the Immerser), but your general message should be about what you stand for in a positive case rather than a negative one.
This idea of being known for what you are against rather than what you are for is a form of fundamentalism. In this regard, some people will turn their minds off and be incredibly reactionary towards any issue they have not studied. It is very sad. It is fine to not know some things. It is fine to not be an expert on something. Further, it can be somewhat of a dog pile on one person who said the wrong thing. You should think about the necessity of your speech. I know this sounds cliche, or whatever, but I am reminded of the popular bracelet that said "W.W.J.D?" Which stands for What Would Jesus Do? Jesus did not wast his words! Let us only speak what is necessary and do it with grace and gentleness so that people can be won over by our good conduct rather than how well we articulated our point(s).
Luke 6:27-36
"“But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.”"
It is becoming all too common for people to know you more for what you are against than what you are for. A topic will come up, such as egalitarian vs complementarian, and then all of a sudden everyone loses their minds and people forget how to talk to other people with "gentleness and respect" and everyone is an expert. And it is usually that people do not make a strong case for what they believe, but rather are bent on tearing down other people's views. I see it all the time. Then, a week later, that issue is completely forgotten about and there is another controversial topic that comes up that suddenly everyone is an expert on. And the cycle continues.
We are not going to be experts on every issue. People specialize. Some people do not have the luxury to study every issue so they must study what they can. I know for myself, even though I would never consider myself an expert on this that I tend to sink more time into determinism and free will than other things. I do have other issues on the back burner that I want to look at eventually, but as of right now, this issue is very important to me.
Let us be the kind of people who do not need to weigh in on everything. Let us be the kind of people who will give our interlocutors a drink of water if they are thirsty. I am by no means an expert at this and I have a long way to go. Still, people should know you much more based on what you are for than what you are against. There are times when you have to call people out (such as in the case of Herod and John the Immerser), but your general message should be about what you stand for in a positive case rather than a negative one.
This idea of being known for what you are against rather than what you are for is a form of fundamentalism. In this regard, some people will turn their minds off and be incredibly reactionary towards any issue they have not studied. It is very sad. It is fine to not know some things. It is fine to not be an expert on something. Further, it can be somewhat of a dog pile on one person who said the wrong thing. You should think about the necessity of your speech. I know this sounds cliche, or whatever, but I am reminded of the popular bracelet that said "W.W.J.D?" Which stands for What Would Jesus Do? Jesus did not wast his words! Let us only speak what is necessary and do it with grace and gentleness so that people can be won over by our good conduct rather than how well we articulated our point(s).
