Dear Church Family,
If you are watching the news at all or paying attention to the culture, you know that unfortunately there are many divisions that run deep. The question that we should all be asking is: What is my response to a divided culture as a follower of Jesus? Let me offer a few suggestions:
1. Focus more on being humble than being right. Our culture seems to want to be right more than it wants truth. Ephesians 4:2 says …”always be humble and gentle.” It seems like everyone wants to be an expert today, everyone wants to be right, some act superior and that they know better…it’s toxic. What if we decided to be humble instead of right?
2. Focus on correcting your own shortcomings, not others. Jesus said to look at the plank in your own eye and not the piece of sawdust in someone else’s. It is really about valuing others, not defaming them. Ephesians 4:2 says “…be patient with each other.”
3. Focus more on common ground than spreading trouble. Ephesians 4.3 says “…make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit.” Perhaps you have heard the expression: the truth is somewhere in the middle. In a polarized culture, most arguments are leaning very hard in one direction. Matthew 18:15 says “…if your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.”
May God bless us all as we try to find unity and make peace with everyone we encounter for Jesus’ sake.
Steve
