A Plea for Unity and Clear Thinking in These Tense Times

As today unfolds—and in the days and weeks that follow—keep this in mind: something is likely to make you angry. Yes, real injustices may happen. And an army of voices—through social media, news reports, and videos on our TVs and feeds—will try to amplify that anger, stoking hatred and division.

Here’s a challenge: be smart. And you are indeed smart. Now is the time to see through the noise that’s often artificially created. Resist the cultural pull to fuel anger and division. Instead, love your neighbor. Jesus taught us that this is the greatest commandment after loving God Himself (Matthew 22:37–39). Don’t rush to share content that deepens division; instead, uphold this commandment by focusing on kindness and bridge-building.

Pause for a moment and step back from a reactionary response. Ask yourself, “Is this report, post, or headline designed to provoke? Is it building us up or tearing us down?” Instead of reacting to content designed as anger-bait, consider reaching out directly to your neighbor. Start conversations that build understanding. Real people—our neighbors, those we live and work alongside—are the ones who truly matter. Not the anonymous voices stirring up strife from behind screens, often from the other side of the world.

Do you love America? I do, too. Yes, this country has its issues, but there is nowhere else like it. We are a tapestry of many perspectives—that diversity is our strength. Out of many, one. E Pluribus Unum.

Let’s honor that unity in how we interact, what we share, and how we love our neighbors—even when it takes effort to do so.

Post inspired by Smarter Every Day

For out of the Overflow of the Heart ...

Imagine caring a cup of acid through a crowded room. Someone bumps into you and you spill acid on the person.

That person asks, “why did you spill acid on me?” 

You respond, “you bumped into me.” 

The real reason the acid spilled was that there was acid in the cup. Had there been no acid in the cup, then no acid would have come out.

 Jesus said in Luke 6:45, “... For out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks."

Image: Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

What has the pandemic done?

What has the pandemic done?

This pandemic has caused a cultural moment for forcing everyone to break through the denial of mortality. It has pulled back the rug and openly displayed how ill-equipped the world is at dealing with this type of an event. It has proven that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. 

Christians have even asked themselves, "should I feel wrong about fearing this pandemic?" Well, yes. However, we all have had fear of the pandemic if we are honest. After all, Christians are not perfect (1 John 1:8).  Let me say it another way. Martin Luther said (paraphrasing), you never break commandments two through ten without first breaking commandment one. You would never lie unless you are making a god out of the thing about which you are lying. If you make a million dollars by lying, then the love of money is your god. The real reason we break the first commandment is that the love of God is not as real to our hearts as the love of [insert your besetting sin here] (Hebrews 12:1 KJV). Yet, God continues to work with broken people, the same people who need grace every day, hour, minute, and second of the day. All of us.

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NKJV)

So, what about the future?

If Jesus Christ was raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Corinthians 5:15 ), if He got up, was seen by hundreds of people (1 Corinthians 15:5-7), and talked with those people, then everything is going to be alright. As Christians, we know these events happened. Everything you are worrying about, what you are afraid of, is going to be okay.

Let’s remember that we are not just talking about a resurrected people; we are talking about a resurrected world (Luke 21:33; Romans 8:22; Mark 13:31; Revelation 21:5).

All other religions talk about an afterlife in a non-material world where you get some type of consolation prize for a world lost. Christianity not only says our bodies are being resurrected, but the world is going to be a material world that is cleansed of all suffering and sin (Isaiah 65:17-19; Psalm 102:25-27; 2 Peter 3:12-13).

We don’t know how it will all be ‘okay’, but it will be (Philippians 4:6-7). The fact remains while still on this Earth, we still cry. Sometimes the reality of the shortness of this life now just overwhelms us and we cry. That is ok. Then, by faith, you remind yourself that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, and because of that, everything is going to be okay. You can then wipe your tears. You don’t stop crying now, but you are under the shelter of his wings (Psalm 36:7; 91:4). It is like salt in a cut. It hurts, but it keeps the cut from going bad. But it doesn’t mean we don’t suffer different injuries in this life. Until we see Jesus (1 John 3:2), we have our cuts and brushes. However, His nail-scarred hands have ultimately taken ours away; His cuts have effectively healed ours.

Please read Tim Keller's article  from where this was adapted.  He also has a book "Hope in Times of Fear: The Resurrection and the Meaning of Easter".  The article struck me as poignant considering the nation's situation in the covid-19 pandemic. I wanted to journal this on here in my words, mainly for me to remember.

Grace is Greater

God’s grace is compelling when explained but irresistible when experienced.

• Grace is powerful and enough to erase your guilt.
• Grace is big enough to heal your shame.
• Grace is real enough to heal your relationships.
• Grace is strong enough to hold you up when you’re weak.
• Grace is sweet enough to cure your bitterness.
• Grace is satisfying enough to deal with your disappointment.
• Grace is beautiful enough to redeem your brokenness.

Grace explained is necessary but grace experienced is essential.

Hebrews 12:15

Such a Time as This

Here we are in this point in history and we need to be reminded as Christians that we have been called for such a time as this.

In ancient Persia, Haman was busy doing the devil's work. Enter Esther (who Xerxes selected as queen) to counter and with the encouragement of Mordecai who told her she was called "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14). God set the chess board and He moved His queen to checkmate the enemy. Brothers and Sisters, “He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others” (Daniel 2:21). God will use us in "such as time as this."

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