As someone who has a masters degree in Social Work and a member of a conservative Christian denomination, my facebook feed spans the political gamut. To quote a favorite show of mine, I find myself "fiercely independent", leaning left on some issues and leaning right on others. I voted for neither major-party candidate in the most recent election - opting to write in the person I thought was the best choice - despite living in a state where my write-in vote wouldn't count.
This weekend my facebook is angry on both sides - and both are right - partially. The left is correct to be angry at a President who has made derogatory remarks at almost every minority group in America. The right is right to fight for the rights of the unborn as image-bearers and to tell the left they are wrong on this very important issue.
As Christians, we need to see all people as image-bearers. This means immigrants - legal or not, those who look like us - or don't, those who think like us - or don't. Those who have the same means as we do - and those who don't.
In fact - as our country becomes more secular - we can't expect non-Christians to act in Christ-like ways, and so while our mission has always been the same - it somehow takes on a new "revolutionary" bent - sounding more like those not at home - caught between the already and the not yet. Because that's where we are.
And so I would encourage you not to "yell" on social media. Invite those you know who think differently into your home - not to try to change their minds on your <insert issue>, but to share the love of Christ. Support ministries in your town that work with kids in foster care or crisis situations, learn more about crisis pregnancy situations, modern-day slavery, inner-city family concerns, and ways to be involved. God calls us to different tasks in this situation - giving money, giving time, opening our home. Righteous anger is Biblical. But so is loving our neighbor.
Next Saturday - march where you can, give how you can, pray about how to be involved. But I encourage you not to yell - in person or online - at the person (especially the non-Christian) who is on the other side. Yelling doesn't build bridges and I doubt it is the most effective evangelization tool.
Be righteously angry - but try to be Christ-like in doing so. Because in our concern for life - not only does life begin at conception, but it doesn't end at death. Keep that in mind as you encounter the "other side".
This weekend my facebook is angry on both sides - and both are right - partially. The left is correct to be angry at a President who has made derogatory remarks at almost every minority group in America. The right is right to fight for the rights of the unborn as image-bearers and to tell the left they are wrong on this very important issue.
As Christians, we need to see all people as image-bearers. This means immigrants - legal or not, those who look like us - or don't, those who think like us - or don't. Those who have the same means as we do - and those who don't.
In fact - as our country becomes more secular - we can't expect non-Christians to act in Christ-like ways, and so while our mission has always been the same - it somehow takes on a new "revolutionary" bent - sounding more like those not at home - caught between the already and the not yet. Because that's where we are.
And so I would encourage you not to "yell" on social media. Invite those you know who think differently into your home - not to try to change their minds on your <insert issue>, but to share the love of Christ. Support ministries in your town that work with kids in foster care or crisis situations, learn more about crisis pregnancy situations, modern-day slavery, inner-city family concerns, and ways to be involved. God calls us to different tasks in this situation - giving money, giving time, opening our home. Righteous anger is Biblical. But so is loving our neighbor.
Next Saturday - march where you can, give how you can, pray about how to be involved. But I encourage you not to yell - in person or online - at the person (especially the non-Christian) who is on the other side. Yelling doesn't build bridges and I doubt it is the most effective evangelization tool.
Be righteously angry - but try to be Christ-like in doing so. Because in our concern for life - not only does life begin at conception, but it doesn't end at death. Keep that in mind as you encounter the "other side".
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