I think it’s a fair question. What if we just stopped being horrible to each other?
What would happen if we dropped the labels, the name-calling, and the hypocritical self-righteous posture. Maybe we could find a new starting point, like say, we are all human. We all have hopes and dreams. We all suffer and experience disappointment. We all laugh and cry. We all have opinions, sometimes we are right and sometimes we’re not.
I am not suggesting that we all have to like each other or even be friends. I’m just wondering what would happen if we practiced respect, kindness, and decency in our disagreements. Not everyone is going to agree with me and that’s ok. Newsflash, sometimes I’m wrong and so are you.
Some thoughts:
Just because you believe something or want it to be true that does not make it a fact.
I can be friends with people who hold very different views from me and…drumroll…learn from them.
We are all hypocrites in some way.
Some relationships are not going to work. Dr. Henry Cloud calls these “necessary endings”. I have had some necessary endings because the relationship was not good for my soul and I probably was not good for theirs. I don’t hate them or wish them ill, I just not interested in being friends and that’s ok.
I chose my behavior, actions, and words. Stop blaming bad behavior on other people.
Finally, from the Apostle Paul: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,” Php 2:3
I too think we can treat people with respect regardless of their opinions that differ from our own. We should show love, they will know that we our Christians by our love ❤️ Someone just reminded me that God puts ordinary people in positions to do great things. We would do well to remember we are not in charge..He is.
Thank you so much, Mike for these timely and appropriate words. I think I need to print them out to re-read them from time to time to remind me.
And this Pastor is how I live as well! And I feel at peace. Thank you for the post.