In all of the media (both news and social) hoopla surrounding the Zimmerman/Martin case, my mind keeps going back to the simple truths my parents instilled in me as a child. As adults, we tend to focus a lot on theological doctrines, but I'm finding it's those small, simple truths that truly alter how society functions.
Truth #1: the Golden Rule
Do unto others as you would have them to do unto you. Or the modern paraphrase of that, "Treat others the way you want to be treated." As Mom loved to remind me, it's not "treat you sister the way she treats you" or "treat her in a way that protects your interests" but the way you'd like for her to treat you. And when we apply that to our neighbors, a waitress, a sales clerk, DMV workers, the teenager messing up our house, it radically alters a situation.
Truth #2: Be KIND, Tenderhearted, Forgiving one another LIKE CHRIST FORGAVE YOU!
The being kind part is probably the easiest of that statement, but having a tender heart towards the people who broke into my house or flipped us off because we were driving too slow in their opinion is not easily done. But there are no exemption clauses here, and our treatment of others, even the less honorable of society, still remains as a reflection of Christ's treatment toward us. I fear too many times I'm a poor reflection of Christ in this category.
Truth #3: Life is sacred.
There are few times in Scripture when God allows life to be taken. One is in retaliation for murder that wasn't self-defense. The second is during a time of war. The third doesn't apply to us in America, as it relates to the theocratic state of Israel. (Priests were often commanded to kill those who violated the laws of the land that dealt with issues of allegiance to God.) Sometimes I think those of us in the south who were raised on a steady diet of God, family, country forget to focus on the sacredness of life. We're all about guns and gun safety, but we don't drive home how sacred blood and life is. Without this balance, our actions, words, and behaviors are often a bit skewed.
Truth #4: Perfect love casts out fear.
The Apostle Paul's admonition to Timothy covers a multitude of areas. While my Mom used this verse, along with others, to make me evaluate just how concerned my 5 year old mind was about my poor bear left in the van in the dark (if I was that concerned about it I would go out there by myself and get it), as an adult I've realized it applies to so much more. When I'm truly viewing others the same way that Christ sees them, my fear of bodily harm diminshes greatly. I don't/won't see people as thieves or beggars or drug dealers, but as humans created by God who greatly need His healing touch.
I have a lot of opinions on the trial and gun ownership and race relations in America, but the more I think about them, the more I realize that those topics of conversation would not be necessary if people actually lived out their faith instead of just talking about it.
Truth #1: the Golden Rule
Do unto others as you would have them to do unto you. Or the modern paraphrase of that, "Treat others the way you want to be treated." As Mom loved to remind me, it's not "treat you sister the way she treats you" or "treat her in a way that protects your interests" but the way you'd like for her to treat you. And when we apply that to our neighbors, a waitress, a sales clerk, DMV workers, the teenager messing up our house, it radically alters a situation.
Truth #2: Be KIND, Tenderhearted, Forgiving one another LIKE CHRIST FORGAVE YOU!
The being kind part is probably the easiest of that statement, but having a tender heart towards the people who broke into my house or flipped us off because we were driving too slow in their opinion is not easily done. But there are no exemption clauses here, and our treatment of others, even the less honorable of society, still remains as a reflection of Christ's treatment toward us. I fear too many times I'm a poor reflection of Christ in this category.
Truth #3: Life is sacred.
There are few times in Scripture when God allows life to be taken. One is in retaliation for murder that wasn't self-defense. The second is during a time of war. The third doesn't apply to us in America, as it relates to the theocratic state of Israel. (Priests were often commanded to kill those who violated the laws of the land that dealt with issues of allegiance to God.) Sometimes I think those of us in the south who were raised on a steady diet of God, family, country forget to focus on the sacredness of life. We're all about guns and gun safety, but we don't drive home how sacred blood and life is. Without this balance, our actions, words, and behaviors are often a bit skewed.
Truth #4: Perfect love casts out fear.
The Apostle Paul's admonition to Timothy covers a multitude of areas. While my Mom used this verse, along with others, to make me evaluate just how concerned my 5 year old mind was about my poor bear left in the van in the dark (if I was that concerned about it I would go out there by myself and get it), as an adult I've realized it applies to so much more. When I'm truly viewing others the same way that Christ sees them, my fear of bodily harm diminshes greatly. I don't/won't see people as thieves or beggars or drug dealers, but as humans created by God who greatly need His healing touch.
I have a lot of opinions on the trial and gun ownership and race relations in America, but the more I think about them, the more I realize that those topics of conversation would not be necessary if people actually lived out their faith instead of just talking about it.
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