I did something amazing the other day – I decided to not respond to a comment that was baiting me into an online argument (because we know those are productive and beneficial). Have you ever been checking out your social media feed and got sucked into the darkness of political, racial, or religious hatred being spewed back and forth? A few years ago, when quarantines, vaccinations, face masks, and election fraud were the hot topic, I admit that I partook in a few comments. And I soon found out that there was no end to it.
Around that time, I started noticing that my anxiety would rise up, I would get a tightening in my chest, and I felt downright angry… all the time! All because of a person I may or may not know stating that they didn’t agree with me – and they weren’t being very nice about it. While many were strangers to me – friends of friends of friends – some were family. When it was family, there was a mixture of disbelief and of sorrow. Oh, the year of 2020! I wish I could say that things have improved.
Now we’re four years later and spending just a few minutes on social media shows that we have not learned much since then. Instead of a terrible sickness, now we’re fighting about the Olympics and another heated election that’s right around the corner. Will we ever learn? Well, I’ve decided to spend less time on social media and will not get caught up in the pointless comment battles.
The post that I originally commented on was about the response many Christians have had in regard to the Olympics attacking Christianity. I merely thanked the person who shared it. There has been so much hatred typed out in posts and comments about the opening ceremonies – many from Christians. This post was different. It was a post reminding Christians of our mission and how to go about it. We’re to point people to Jesus – and we’re to do it in a loving way.
But what about Jesus flipping tables? What about His righteous anger as He cleared the temple? Let’s take a look.
And Jesus entered the temple and cast out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. Matthew 21:12 NASB
Jesus entered the temple. This means that those who were inside the temple were being rebuked, not those on the outside of the temple. We’re not called to regulate the world into acting like Christ, but to be a light so they will be drawn to Him. Scripture doesn’t tell us that Jesus banned anyone from ever being allowed back into the temple – but He did express what was and was not tolerated. If there is something that is un-Christlike that I discover in someone I’m close to – who is also a believer – and I’m led by the Spirit to bring it to their attention, then I should – but in a way that restores.
Take a moment to read Romans 1:18-2:1-8. I know it seems like a lot to read, but the Word of God is our handbook for how to navigate life – including the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, social media, and the political arena.
Notice in Romans 1:20-26, we’re told that from the beginning of time, creation speaks of God’s divine nature. There’s evidence of God everywhere – people know of God, but they do not honor Him. Instead, they mock Him. And God allows it. But in Romans 2:4, we’re reminded that it is God’s goodness – His kindness and patience – that leads those who are lost to repent and change their ways.
That’s what we’re to show! I’m not saying that we can’t state that we’re not happy about something, but how are we representing God’s goodness, kindness, and patience? How are we shining a light? Sure, state that you’re boycotting something that doesn’t share your values, express that you’re disappointed, but you don’t have to respond with hate-filled words or a holier-than-thou tone to those who disagree with you and are choosing to reject a relationship with their Creator.
The Olympics opening ceremony didn’t surprise God. Just like Judas’ betrayal (Matthew 26:14-25), Peter’s denial (Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75), and Thomas’ doubt (John 20:24-29) didn’t surprise Him. Jesus washed their feet anyway (John 13:1-15). Jesus ate with them anyway (Mark 14:12-20). Jesus knew their shortcomings and full-on failures, but He loved them anyway – without berating them.
At the beginning of every season, my kitchen has little black ants that come to explore in search of food. Having four kiddos, they often find some. I tried vinegar a few times – didn’t work. I love and hate vinegar. It is an amazing cleaner, but the smell can sour my stomach pretty quickly, too. What I have found that works the best (at least until the start of the next season) is equal parts warm water, Borax, and sugar. The warm water blends in with the Borax and the sugar attracts the ants to a feast.
Please don’t think that I’m saying that we need to poison those who don’t agree with us. I am absolutely NOT saying that. What I am saying is that we need to show God’s goodness and kindness to the world. Only then will they want what we have (Proverbs 16:24).
And God is ready, with His arms open, to welcome the lost home. Ephesians 2:11-13 tells us that we, too, were far off from the loving embrace of God. We don’t have to be actual drag queens, drug addicts, or murderers to be lost. But as soon as we accepted Jesus’ sacrifice as the payment for our sins, He embraced us – never to let us go. And He’s ready to offer that same embrace to anyone who turns to Him.
The Prodigal Son is a favorite story of mine and my husband. We are always finding something new that has us marveling at God’s amazing goodness and grace. Take a minute to read Luke 15:11-32. Notice how the father had two sons. One was dutiful and did everything the father asked of him. The other decided that he didn’t want the life his father was offering, but instead wanted to party – okay, he wanted to party hard. And he discovered that there was no life in that lifestyle.
He decided to seek employment from his father – not sonship, but servanthood. The father had his eye on the horizon, always looking for his son to come back. Lo and behold, his son came into view. From a long way off, the father saw him and ran out to greet him. Before he got cleaned up or even crossed the threshold, the father embraced him, and kissed him. He then placed a robe on him to cover his iniquity (Zechariah 3:4). If that wasn’t enough, he put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet – this symbolized having authority in the house of the father. He was restored and then brought into the house.
But what of the other son? One son lives like the devil, repents and is restored, and does the other son join the celebration that takes place upon his return? Nope! Instead, he became angry. He couldn’t seem to understand why they were celebrating his brother after such scandalous disloyalty.
I don’t want to be angry when someone who is so scandalously disloyal decides to turn their life over to God. Let’s not act like we don’t want the lost to be found. Let’s operate in the same grace that we have experienced. We shouldn’t condone anything that doesn’t bring glory to God, but we should show the fruits of the Spirit to those who are lost.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25 NASB