There seems to be an overabundance of fear that has crept into the world in this last week.  I have seen it expressed in the news and especially on social media.  While the answers of what to do about this and that still seem to be points of discussion, or perhaps simply narcissistic, positional posturing with no real desire for dialogue or anything other than to dismiss the argument of the “other side” and prove that they are wrong at all costs.

While each “side” continues to try to proverbially bash the other over the head with Scripture to prove themselves, I am reflecting on what Jesus meant in Luke 12:49-53, about a house, a family, even parents and children that are divided.  I also wonder if there are places in Scripture that might offer us wisdom in how we should be conducting ourselves… in public… on social media… and in other forums where we have so readily thrown our Christian brothers and sisters under the bus.

While the book of Proverbs offers much wisdom, it is perhaps the words of James come to mind most readily for me:

James 1:19-20

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, ²⁰ because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 

I wonder if too often we get caught up in the notion that we are adding to the “conversation” by constantly putting our views out there, dismissing the views of others.  Yet far to often we forget that the very meaning of “conversation” and “dialogue” is, by definition, an act of listening as much, if not more than you are speaking.  I think that if we are honest, we have forgotten how to do this.

Now we could blame social media, twitter, “liberal” or “conservative” media, cell phones, or any number of other things, and yet I think the simple fact is the only people we have to blame is ourselves.  Whether our intentions are good or not is besides the point really, we have taken the easier road of boastful and sometimes even arrogant statements about what we think (which is obviously right) and made sure that those who oppose our view know that they are wrong.  Our words are cutting, demeaning, and sometimes even dehumanizing.

We have been shouting at each other for so long in such a public venue that, rather than proving our point to anyone, we have collectively turned our Christian voice into nothing more than two people shouting into two empty rooms.  Instead of contributing a solution to the problem, both sides, whom I assume are well meaning, have only contributed to a stalemate in solving the real problems that do exist.  Instead we have, perhaps unknowingly, chosen to promote that which we feel is most important: Our Own Opinion.

We claim that we are “following in the ways of Jesus” who stood up against bigots and pharisees, and yet we fail to recognize that there is only one mention of Jesus going into a situation with “guns blazing.”  In every other situation it wasn’t Jesus who spoke first, but the others.  They asked their questions, made their statements, and said their piece and Jesus was willing to hear it.  Granted there was loving, and sometimes forceful correction that took place, and I think that is necessary for us today as well, however it comes in the midst of listening and loving those He spoke to, even if they were “spiritually blind.”

What would it mean to really listen to our brothers and sisters?

What would it mean to really look at the problems that others struggle with?

Maybe it would mean that we don’t so readily dismiss the legitimate fears of others surrounding refugees and terrorists…

Maybe it would mean opening our eyes to the real struggles of those forced from their homelands with absolutely nothing who simply want a safe place to exist…

Hopefully it would mean that we could, for a moment, stop proof texting our own arguments in Scripture and allow the Holy Spirit’s voice to speak to us… and through us… from God’s Word…

…a voice that calls us to “carry each other’s burdens” and to “keep the unity of the Spirit through the bonds of peace.”

I would not presume to know the solutions to the problems that we are currently facing in the world.  I don’t know how to take down ISIS or what to do with hundreds of thousands of refugees.  To be honest, I am still seeking to come to grips with the fact that several hundred (I think over 500 at this point) have died in terrorist attacks that we have heard about, and I’m sure there have been more that we don’t know about.  Women and children are still enslaved in the sex trade each day, humans sold into bondage.  Corrupt Governments in the most powerful nations in the world argue and bicker over everything under the sun, but the real needs of people, whether refugees or homeless veterans are not addressed.

I do not know how to deal with these things… what the answers are… how to begin to address them… so I will say nothing and just listen… I hope I will gain wisdom… and will continue to care for the least, the last, and the lost in any way that I can…

…but this one thing I do know.  I know that my Redeemer lives and one day He will stand upon this earth.  I know that He who is the first and the last is making all things new.  I know that Jesus Christ loved the world so much that He gave His life that we could live.

And I know that, in the midst of so much that would give cause for fear, for doubt, for hesitation, I can say with the Psalmist these words:

Psalm 46