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animosity

I totally understand the desire to hang out with people that are similar to you. There's a comfort and calmness there that makes life much easier.

What I don't understand is the animosity exhibited toward people who are different. One thing I didn't expect to learn from Facebook was how much arrogance all of us humans possess. I've been baffled at how much animosity people display toward others who don't share their viewpoint. I've been disappointed and sometimes downright disgusted.

Comments like these:
Why should I pray for them? My parents live in Atlanta and I've visited there. Southerners are stupid and if they can't figure out a way to build houses to survive floods and tornadoes then they don't deserve my prayers.

I want to help Muslims meet Jesus. (with a picture of a gun)

Tell me I don't treat my kid right? It's a wonder they didn't call the cops and have me on the nightly news!

Anyone who supports Hobby Lobby would also support an employer refusing to pay for statins or anti-depressants.

and I'm not even going to post all the ones, pro and con, that have dealt with homosexuality.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the love of Christ and how that was one characteristic that caught people's attention during the early church years. Sometimes I fear that is greatly missing from my life, that I don't exhibit God's love often enough. I want people to read my Facebook posts (which I almost never post) and see a heart of love, not condemnation, scorn, or hatred.  Yes, we have to take a stand for what is right, but pointing toward Christ is not a defensive position, nor does it have to be hateful.

The past few Wednesday nights we've been studying the attributes of God. It's been amazing how studying how awesome God is automatically brings praise to the tongue.  It's also been convicting. The more I see how incredible God is, the more I realize how much I need to change and work on to become more of a reflection of him.

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:  
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 
~ I John 1: 6-10 
 

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