Anyone noticed there is a lot of fighting around lately? 2020 will be marked by many strange and traumatic things, but the level of debate and tense discourse must be at an all time high. The elections in the United States have brought this to a fever pitch, and because I have the unique of experience of being an American but not living in America right now, I can see things and feel them differently as I am outside. My greatest challenge in this is to form my own opinions and convictions while hearing and receiving the thoughts of others. One thing I know for sure is that we can’t avoid the strife, it’s an inevitable part of life. What I do know is that we need to learn to fight fair, and nothing is more important in the Body of Christ right now. So how do we fight fair? Here are a few things I have learned over the years.
Hold your judgement
Listen WHOLEHEARTEDLY
Ask God for empathy
Find the STORIES in the opinions
Find true RESPECT in your differences
Even as I am sharing these thoughts, I am deeply challenged in my own prejudices that I hold and justify. We all do this, and probably most often just keep them to ourselves and stew in our own self righteousness. This can’t be the way forward in peace and unity, and moreover, if we are people of God, we are stirred to be ministers of reconciliation, not keepers of our own opinions.
Maybe the change starts with us. Maybe it starts with me. Maybe it starts with one friend, one conversation, one open heart. Maybe that heart is yours? I pray it can be mine.
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