I was just thinking

Bitter and Sweet

 

In the book of James there is a warning to Christians, concerning our words.  Can a well give both sweet and bitter water?  It hits right at the problem of hypocrisy.  Pretending to be one thing and reveal yourself to be another.  As harsh as that sounds just about everyone falls prey to it.

 

James points out a flaw in human character, our mouth.  We can preach love, forgiveness, mercy, compassion, kindness and all the good stuff and when outside the church or maybe even inside the church out of the same mouth comes arrogance, smugness, hostility, self-righteousness, and a host of bad stuff.

 

The terrible news is that it has really gotten out of hand lately.  Our political climate mixed with all the different opinions and beliefs regarding Covid, vaccines and treatments, you get a perfect storm of controversy, condescension, and anger.  Sadly, the church, the ministry and laity, seem more vocal about the current topics then the gospel. 

 

Overnight people have become medical experts, constitutional scholars, and political commentators.  Each one has their arguments, their experts, and their data.  All of them, however, have cast off all human decency and all social graces.  They all claim to respect other views, but the reality is far from respectful.  If we are to be honest and even blunt, people are simply regurgitating what other people have regurgitated.  There is rarely an original thought among all of them, they are simply parroting what they have heard and believe.

 

The truth is we make our decision and then we must take ownership of that decision and take responsibility for that decision.  It is mine, no one else’s, just mine.  You must make up your own mind.  I did and yes, I have one, but not at the expense of the gospel.  Think of how miserable it would be if every medical decision was so deeply buried in political discourse.  You couldn’t do anything without someone finding fault.  It would be a horrible situation and is.

 

There will be those who read this that will lose their minds and search for their soap box, but that will just prove my point.  We have become so hypersensitive in our conversations that we can find ourselves alienating many to the most important message we can bring, Jesus.  Covid is the topic for today, but not forever.  Jesus is the only topic that transcends history, politics, and opinion.  But how many people have we offended and created an obstacle to hearing the gospel?

 

Love is our guiding principle in conversation and deed.  I can have an opinion, but I can also communicate it respectfully and lovingly.  I don’t have to win at all costs all the time.  It might be time to stop polluting our wells.  There is only one way, one truth and one life and that is Jesus.  He is the only answer you need and the only argument you need to win.