Friends,
Times are challenging. This virus has altered so much of the life we knew before and the weight of that can sometimes be overwhelming. There is no denying that this pandemic is unlike anything we’ve experienced before – mostly because of our access to the media.
I’m not going to sit here and argue with you about what videos are fake or which stories are real. That is not because I don’t watch them or read them. It’s not because I’m afraid to defend my beliefs. And it’s not because I’m being naive or ignorant. It’s because I understand fully that so much is unknown.
But, we cannot generalize people based on ‘social labels’ and assume based on those labels that we know everything about them.
Liberal. Conservative.
Christian. Atheist.
Male. Female.
Rich. Poor.
etc, etc, etc.
Guys, when all we see is how someone opposes our own beliefs, we think our beliefs are better or right we are losing so much more than an argument. We are losing our humanity.
Humanity: (n) compassionate, sympathetic, or generous behavior or disposition: the quality or state of being humane.
“The world is being destroyed by one side believing the other side is destroying the world. The world is being hurt and damaged by one group of people believing they’re truly better people than the others who think differently… Have the strength to doubt and question what you believe as easily as you’re so quick to doubt [his] beliefs.” – Andrew W.K.
It is okay to disagree. It is ok to engage in healthy debate. It is okay to “see things differently”. It is ok because that is how God created us. No two people are exactly alike.
“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” – Isaiah 64:8
We are all one-of-a-kind works of art.
We each see the world differently.
But, our capacity to love others must be greater than our capacity to defend ourselves and to judge others.
“The only one who can cause us to drop our anger, agendas, and politics and cross over crazy divided lines we have drawn in the sand is the blood of Jesus Christ.” – Wayne Bray
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Look, guys, it’s called free will. I am in no way shaming people for sharing information. I’m not trying to police anyone. It is your social media so you can obviously post what you want and comment how you want. You definitely don’t have to agree with me or with anyone else for that matter. I’m not trying to tell you what to do or think. And I’m not saying you shouldn’t defend something because obviously there are things worth defending.
But the reality is, we all know what the power of love can do. We all know what kindness can do. We all know what respect can do.
I’ve just been so disheartened by some of the things that have been on my feed. The devil is using this virus is ways we can’t comprehend and now, more than ever, we need to push into loving each other first.
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Jesus would not be burning bridges right now – He would be building them.
I’m going to keep loving you. Your differing beliefs nor this pandemic will not cause that to stop. Sure, I may see things differently but my Savior said the second most important commandment is to love my neighbor as myself. So, I’m going to do the best I can to do that. <3
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1 Corinthians 13: 1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”
Romans 12:2
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Psalm 147:5
“Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.”
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