It seems like everything today has to be divided and force you to pick a side. Republican or democrat. American or unpatriotic. Conservation or liberal. Black lives matter or blue lives matter. Mask or no mask. Shutdown or no shutdown. LGBTQ+ or transphobic. Lines in the sand are drawn, sides are picked, and the battle begins. Everyone on your side is your ally and everyone on the other side is your enemy. You better not be seen even having a conversation with the other side or your loyalty will be questioned (remember when Ellen was bashed for sitting with George Bush at a football game?).
It makes it difficult to even have a conversation anymore. It seems that there is no place for nuance. It seems that there is no room for grey. It seems that there is no room to have a belief that falls somewhere in the middle or takes some from both sides. It has led to a place where we label others. A place where we fear others. A place where we don’t trust others. All this is just based on something as simple as what political party they are affiliated with.
I was listening to the VOX podcast this week (ep. 258) and the host Mike Erre said something that resonated with me.
You cannot love and serve your neighbor while distrusting, fearing, and labeling them.
Mike Erre
In Acts chapter 9, God tells Ananias to go to Saul and heal his sight. Ananias questions God saying that he has heard stories about how ruthless Saul is and how much he has hurt people that believe in Jesus. Saul was on the opposite side of the field. Ananias was basically saying, “But God that is the enemy.” God’s response is amazing.
“Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Acts 9:15-16 NIV
God tells him that it doesn’t matter what Ananias has heard or what Saul has done, Ananias needs to go show him love and serve him. Ananias couldn’t do that if he held on to his distrust, fear, and labels. He had to let go of all of that and see Saul as God did. God didn’t see Saul as a terrible person. He saw him as His chosen instrument.
If I viewed everyone as God does, how different would I treat people? If we as a nation collectively did that how different would America be. It’s time to drop the labels, drop the fear, drop the distrust and love again. Let’s drop the us versus them narrative. Everyone is a broken vessel that God desires to use. There are times he wants to use us to start the healing process in their life. Let’s start the process.
until next time…