Calling all Christians! Let’s stop this craziness!! All of us have been broken-hearted over the insane and horrific killings in Tucson at the cusp of this new decade, January 8 at a political gathering outside a Safeway grocery store. So, we have to ask ourselves as Christians, when are we going to stop fighting each other? Of course, all religious faiths have sects within their ranks who fight horrifically with one another. Yet, we are children and disciples of the Prince of Peace, who were baptized into a new covenant of love and forgiveness where we are universally and eternally connected with each other through the body of Christ. As Christians, we are part of the eternal and universal kingdom of God where we are to live as Christian brothers and sisters caring for one another.
Calling all Christians! Please my fellow Christians, I plead for us to stop this warfare mentality among the body of Christ. No one will ever win this war of words and in reality, this wordy war will destroy all sides of the political rhetoric and destroy our ability to share the Gospel of the Good News of Christ. We should be standing together and embracing one another, not destroying each other through words and actions of hatred and malicious strife. We have become consumed with proving that we are the ones who are right and our fellow Christians and fellow countrymen and women are wrong.When we purposefully hurt each other with warfare words, we are in reality, destroying the very body of Christ. Jesus the Christ said that there are two great commandments, to love the Lord your God with your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
Calling all Christians! Let’s take a repentant evaluation of how stoney our hearts have become through hatred of another political party or someone else’s ideas and ask forgiveness and repent before it’s too late, before our children and grandchildren start schools of Christian jihad and before they think that one of the virtues of the Christian faith is destroying another’s person’s reputation because they interpret the Bible or the Constitution differently than we do. War rhetoric often leads to physical war. We are called to love and forgive one another, bearing one another’s burdens, not adding to their hurt and struggles. Yes, of course, be part of the political process, but do it in a way of integrity, in a way that shows that we are first and foremost a Christian, and secondly a Democrat, Republican, Tea Party member, or Libertarian. Do to others as we would have them do to us.
Calling all Christians! Let’s take a holy and Christian fast from watching inflammatory news stations, let’s take a fast from speaking slanderous words about another person, let’s let’s take a fast from sending emails about the perceived horribleness of another political group. Let’s instead, spend that time in prayer and doing good for the sake of the kingdom of God and for the sake of Christianity in the world and in America. Let’s ask the Spirit of the Living God to fill us with love of God and love of neighbor. We are called to love and respect all people, no matter the faith tradition, skin color, political ideology, or how they interpret their scripture. Following Christ calls us to another way of thinking and acting, one based on the incredible power of love and forgiveness, not hatred and destruction.
Calling all Christians! Let’s lay down our guns and grenades of word warfare at the cross and allow them to be transformed into words of living water bringing forth refreshment, life, and blessing.
Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, President and General Minister of the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ has a great post about the Tucson tragedy. Hope you will read her very fine comments “God’s Heart was the First to Break” at www.disciples.org
Love One Another. From One Year Bible Blog
Thank you, Brenda. My heart breaks for the families involved, but also our nation. Last night, I turned on the TV and almost every show was about violence: CSI-Miami on CBS, a new cop program on NBC. What happened to variety shows and shows that celebrated talent and happiness. I worry about our children and how their exposure to ongoing violence on TV, movies and videogames make them more immune to the real horrors of actual violence.
Thank you for your invitation. I accept and join you in prayer for the victims, their families, and our country.
Cathy, it is scary the amount of violence that our children and youth are exposed to on a daily basis. It must color our worldview significantly and effect us in ways that touch us deeply as human beings. Your website/ organization is making changes to bless our world. Thank you!
Amen and again I say, Amen!
Thank you Bobbie for always reading my blog. We are “soul sisters!”
As Christians, I believe there is no room in our vocabulary for the mutated meaning of “tolerance”.
If the best we teach our children is to “tolerate” others, have we really exemplified the mind and actions of Christ, whom we are called to follow?
How would you feel if I were to say, “You know, I really tolerate you!”
I don’t know about you, but I don’t relish being “tolerated”. It doesn’t fill me with joy to think that someone is effectively gritting their teeth to associate with me.
As Christians, I emphatically believe we are called to a higher standard, to the radical call-to-action of LOVING one another. All others. No exceptions or asterisked entries that receive exemption because their thoughts on topics don’t perfectly coalesce with our own.
Love. Simple. Plain. Unapologetic. And uncompromising.
If a communication doesn’t pass the LOVE standard, then it should not qualify to enter my space. Or Facebook. Or Twitter.
If I wouldn’t be proud to pass my email by Jesus, then it is not worthy of hitting “send”. If the joke/comment/picture about someone who doesn’t share my political affiliation isn’t one that would earn me a “well done, good and faithful servant” from the Christ, then it does not deserve entry into my world.
As a Christian, I’m weary of tolerance. And hungry for Love to be released, 24/7, in waves of kindness and simple acts. And also by every day choices that require me to engage my brain and my Christian heart before participating in any activity, online or off, that would bring shame to the name we are called to serve.
Thank you for issuing the call. I stand with you! Selah.
What a great response on the importance of love. Your are so right that LOVE is the standard for us as Christians. Thank you for this great reminder!
Unfortunately great tragedy and loss are quickly demonized to score “political points”. We should take time together to grieve, mourn, and comfort one another because Christ commamds us to “love one another”. We live in a great nation of tremendous freedoms. We should always be mindful that in this life there is nothing free except God’s grace. Hopefully we can pause and reflect on this tragedy and allow ourselves to be made better not bitter. Peace.
Thank you Paul for your very thoughtful response. You always have great replies and I thank you for reading the blog. Have a blessed New Year!!