Rev. Richard Smith
John 15 – Words of Jesus To His Disciples ‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you…You are my friends if you do what I command. And this is my commandment; love one another!’
I don’t need to tell you that we are living in a time of great division and discord. Across cultural, social, religious, and political arenas, we see daily evidence of finger pointing, condemnation, and personal verbal assaults.
It’s reaching a fever pitch, to say the least.
Now, obviously, there are several critical issues about which persons are most passionate. Yet, being passionate doesn’t mean one has to be outright hateful and inconsiderate.
What’s especially troubling is that many of these judgmental voices are from people of the Christian faith. It seems many readily wear the label of Jesus follower without a corresponding propensity to actually practice the love ethic of Jesus.
I know almost all Christians would readily agree with Jesus’ words here in John 15 and consider them a necessary commandment indeed. And yet, when it comes to practicing this love ethic, so many react well outside the norms such love expects.
Let me suggest some basic assumptions we each can and should follow if we’re going to be the loving people of Jesus in public life.
Accept That None Of Us Have All The Answers
I learned fairly early in my pastoral ministry that there were persons in the churches I served who actually had more Biblical knowledge and deeper life experiences and that if I would let them, they could teach me much. This could only happen, however, if I accepted my limited awareness and was willing to listen.
Accepting that one cannot claim absolute truth or knowledge is always the starting point to a healthy way of interacting with others. It leads to dialogue, to sincere listening, and to prospective relationship even in strong disagreement. Whoever you are, however deep your spiritual commitment, however Biblically studied you are, none of us can wear the badge of absolute wisdom; of absolutely knowing God’s will and intent.
And, again, because we know we don’t have all the answers, we pledge to listen to others and discern if there’s an insight from God we need to hear and heed.
Practice Civility And Sensitivity
The starting point, as I see it, for finding ways to dialogue constructively in sharp disagreement is to see the other person as a child of God. We are a child of God. He/she is a child of God. And none of us are perfect children of God.
If in conflict over issues, I see you as less than a child of God, then the mental and emotional door is open for me to treat your perceptions as pure garbage. Now, granted, there are some viewpoints that are far from a credible Christian witness and these should be addressed (see below), but so often we each simply stand our ground and assume without question that we are right.
Do Commit To Address Justice
There are matters of justice and goodness which simply cannot be tolerated. We should not tolerate any position of unacceptable mistreatment of others. We should not allow others to disdain those of different ethnic status or sexual orientation or religious conviction or gender status. We should not ignore those who denigrate other human beings and view their mistreatment as a natural and inevitable consequence. We should not allow hateful and harmful words and actions to go unaddressed.
Again, however, with prayer, with God’s help, we must do our best, even as we draw the line, not to fall prey to unhealthy personal attacks and to denigration of those with whom we strongly disagree. We can strongly challenge their views and their actions without becoming the shallow persons they seem to be.
Pray
I think people of religious faith have a responsibility – and opportunity – to draw upon God’s wisdom; God’s help; God’s guidance; and God’s strength.
Pray for humility and honest awareness of your own selfhood.
Pray for insight into the Biblical references speaking to the issues.
Pray for strength to be as kind as possible.
Pray for discernment about the other person’s situation and background.
Pray for awareness of common threads in each other’s life experiences so that there can be common ground.
Pray to be able to live Romans 12:18: If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, liveat peace with everyone.
