I really appreciate your inclusion of those in the middle who seek to understand, who find the good and the fault in the sides, and put faithfulness to the gospel ahead of cultural trends. The extremes get a lot of airplay. Peacemakers are boring. Thinkers lack compassion. The faithful have delusions. If you aren't an activist working to overturn evil, you are the people who let Hitler kill Jews. Pretty damning judgments. But I think most of us are quietly serving in our communities and being faithful in our work and in our families. Our sense of justice is offended by the shrill cries to embrace one extreme view without fair play to the complexity of the issues. Nicely done.
As I read the Bible I am reminded that God is not shocked by any of this mess America is in. I have also noticed that depending on where people are living is what the topics are and how each are being addressed. Friends living on the East coast bring up different issues than those who live on the West coast (like myself) It seems geographic culture plays a part in what tension is in each place Also I see how culture feeds into the same topics in how they are talked about. We all need to remember that we do not battle against flesh and blood but against the spiritual realm that seeks to harm, kill and destroy. Satan has convinced us we are fighting against flesh and blood because it gets our eyes off Jesus.
As always, Lori, you present timely Truth with compassionate words. Walking that line between screaming sides, willing to hear and listen to both but always pointing toward what God says, is the way Jesus did it. I pray to have the wisdom and discernment He did and the strength and courage to extend grace and compassion to everyone.
To answer your question as to a strategy I use for continuing to live by faith in times of conflict and divide: discussion is critical!
At work for instance, I led a coworker to Christ and she is full of vitriol for anyone who has a rainbow or other such gender identifier on their work locker. She asked me ‘to stand with her against homosexuality’ by putting certain magnets on our lockers.
I declined.
She was shocked and angry telling me I ‘talk the talk but don’t walk the walk’.
As she ranted she followed me around as I gathered supplies.
I stopped and asked her whether she was reading the New Testament I’d given her (she declined to meet together).
She replied in the affirmative.
I asked her a few more questions about what she understood about Jesus in her reading. As I walked her through Jesus’ character, and his fearless connection with prostitutes, criminals and others, she began to ask me questions and we were able to get to a good place regarding mercy, love, and imitating Him.
Our discussion continued through our shift at work, and that bit of discipleship helped create a stepping stone in the foundation of a new mindset - one that was Christ-like. Philippians 4 is a new tool in her arsenal, as are other tools to help her as she learns more about this Christian life.
As always, Lori, you are right on target. I did have a bit of a question about one sentence: "Does the idea of more than one gender make you uncomfortable, and do you question the wisdom of treating children with puberty blocking hormones?"
I think I know what you're getting at, but the "one gender" phrase threw me... maybe a bit of clarification is needed? Or, am I the only slow one?
It is a sad commentary on The Church, but true. Some live for a fight... others choose "peaceful" retreat, patting themselves on the back. We need to be PRAYING for EACH OTHER!
Thank you so much Lori for this article. So well balanced. And I also love that you included the middle as well. Trying to walk the Biblical road and answering with Scripture to people who rip a half a line out of context from the Bible and think they are 'slaying their opponent with truth' is very frustrating. Illiteracy of God's Word is more rampant than we think!
I really appreciate your inclusion of those in the middle who seek to understand, who find the good and the fault in the sides, and put faithfulness to the gospel ahead of cultural trends. The extremes get a lot of airplay. Peacemakers are boring. Thinkers lack compassion. The faithful have delusions. If you aren't an activist working to overturn evil, you are the people who let Hitler kill Jews. Pretty damning judgments. But I think most of us are quietly serving in our communities and being faithful in our work and in our families. Our sense of justice is offended by the shrill cries to embrace one extreme view without fair play to the complexity of the issues. Nicely done.
I appreciate your words! Nicely written.
Praise God, there still are some "Bereans" among us!
Solid reference!
Thank you Ruth for this comment. I can certainly identify with this.
She is good!
As I read the Bible I am reminded that God is not shocked by any of this mess America is in. I have also noticed that depending on where people are living is what the topics are and how each are being addressed. Friends living on the East coast bring up different issues than those who live on the West coast (like myself) It seems geographic culture plays a part in what tension is in each place Also I see how culture feeds into the same topics in how they are talked about. We all need to remember that we do not battle against flesh and blood but against the spiritual realm that seeks to harm, kill and destroy. Satan has convinced us we are fighting against flesh and blood because it gets our eyes off Jesus.
Sound observations, Teresa! Geography, demographic, economic status, new sourse, etc. Lots of factors, yes?
You are one of the rational ones. I like you.
I'm glad you think so. I try not to write on days I'm one of the screaming one and definitely not when I'm one of the silent.
As always, Lori, you present timely Truth with compassionate words. Walking that line between screaming sides, willing to hear and listen to both but always pointing toward what God says, is the way Jesus did it. I pray to have the wisdom and discernment He did and the strength and courage to extend grace and compassion to everyone.
No easy road, is it? Impossible, without Him but with Him, we have every hope!
Amen
To answer your question as to a strategy I use for continuing to live by faith in times of conflict and divide: discussion is critical!
At work for instance, I led a coworker to Christ and she is full of vitriol for anyone who has a rainbow or other such gender identifier on their work locker. She asked me ‘to stand with her against homosexuality’ by putting certain magnets on our lockers.
I declined.
She was shocked and angry telling me I ‘talk the talk but don’t walk the walk’.
As she ranted she followed me around as I gathered supplies.
I stopped and asked her whether she was reading the New Testament I’d given her (she declined to meet together).
She replied in the affirmative.
I asked her a few more questions about what she understood about Jesus in her reading. As I walked her through Jesus’ character, and his fearless connection with prostitutes, criminals and others, she began to ask me questions and we were able to get to a good place regarding mercy, love, and imitating Him.
Our discussion continued through our shift at work, and that bit of discipleship helped create a stepping stone in the foundation of a new mindset - one that was Christ-like. Philippians 4 is a new tool in her arsenal, as are other tools to help her as she learns more about this Christian life.
I love leaning into my purpose - OUR purpose!
Discussion, dialog, listening, boldly referring to God's Word, modeling compassion. Great strategies!
As always, Lori, you are right on target. I did have a bit of a question about one sentence: "Does the idea of more than one gender make you uncomfortable, and do you question the wisdom of treating children with puberty blocking hormones?"
I think I know what you're getting at, but the "one gender" phrase threw me... maybe a bit of clarification is needed? Or, am I the only slow one?
It is a sad commentary on The Church, but true. Some live for a fight... others choose "peaceful" retreat, patting themselves on the back. We need to be PRAYING for EACH OTHER!
You caught a typo. Thank you! Should be more than two genders (one per person).
Thank you so much Lori for this article. So well balanced. And I also love that you included the middle as well. Trying to walk the Biblical road and answering with Scripture to people who rip a half a line out of context from the Bible and think they are 'slaying their opponent with truth' is very frustrating. Illiteracy of God's Word is more rampant than we think!
Agreed. I think that "ripping out of context" is symptomatic of our biblically illiterate times.
Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You point to biblical truth, crucial for the times in which we live.
I am one grateful reader!
And I am always your grateful friend.