Time to Stop
Several years ago I was having a conversation with one of the adjudicatory leaders in my denomination and he made the comment: "I have never seen so many people with an it is all right to get in your face attitude." The conversation took place around 1995 or 1996 and since that time the issue has escalated to be 100 times worse than it was at that time.
What has happened is the screaming has escalated to the point where we fail to listen to anyone any more who have a different take on what we believe. As case in point for several months I received an e-mail from a member of the church I pastor which touted a particular political mindset of which I did not follow. After receiving a series of these items I decided it was time to send him a message which better represented my point of view. Very shortly I received a scathing e-mail from the person as to how I was not a Christian if I subscribed to such beliefs. I then felt the need to pay a visit to that person.
Today it seems both sides are doing a lot of name calling, hate mongering and mud slinging to the point it is all right because the other side did it first. I just scratch my head wondering when did the words of Jesus change from: "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" to do unto others only if they believe like you.
The conversation between differing groups has become a shouting match won by who can shout the loudest. I am reminded of a Peanuts cartoon from years ago where Charlie Brown is being chased by Violet and all of a sudden he stops and tries to reason with her. She listens for a while and then decks him with a right cross. Then she says, "I had to hit him quick he was beginning to make sense.
It seems as if we are afraid to enter into a conversation because the other side may have some good points. It is easier to put them down, name call and make the other side the enemy of all we feel is good.
Maybe it is time the people of God stopped being a part of the problem and started looking for a solution. Now I realize there may be some who will never enter into a conversation about the differences that exist but even though that may be true I must still make the effort to engage in the conversation. if I do not then I become one of the screamers and only serve to make the problem worse. Over then next few blogs I plan to give some suggestions about how this can be achieved.
What has happened is the screaming has escalated to the point where we fail to listen to anyone any more who have a different take on what we believe. As case in point for several months I received an e-mail from a member of the church I pastor which touted a particular political mindset of which I did not follow. After receiving a series of these items I decided it was time to send him a message which better represented my point of view. Very shortly I received a scathing e-mail from the person as to how I was not a Christian if I subscribed to such beliefs. I then felt the need to pay a visit to that person.
Today it seems both sides are doing a lot of name calling, hate mongering and mud slinging to the point it is all right because the other side did it first. I just scratch my head wondering when did the words of Jesus change from: "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" to do unto others only if they believe like you.
The conversation between differing groups has become a shouting match won by who can shout the loudest. I am reminded of a Peanuts cartoon from years ago where Charlie Brown is being chased by Violet and all of a sudden he stops and tries to reason with her. She listens for a while and then decks him with a right cross. Then she says, "I had to hit him quick he was beginning to make sense.
It seems as if we are afraid to enter into a conversation because the other side may have some good points. It is easier to put them down, name call and make the other side the enemy of all we feel is good.
Maybe it is time the people of God stopped being a part of the problem and started looking for a solution. Now I realize there may be some who will never enter into a conversation about the differences that exist but even though that may be true I must still make the effort to engage in the conversation. if I do not then I become one of the screamers and only serve to make the problem worse. Over then next few blogs I plan to give some suggestions about how this can be achieved.
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