The Problem with Hate

"We have so many battles going on in America today that we should be a people of prayer. Our leaders need prayer. Our schools need prayer. Our youth need our prayers. Our families need our prayers." - Billy Graham (in a Facebook post from Franklin Graham.)

My heart is extremely heavy this morning. I awoke to the news that at the end of what had been a peaceful demonstration, police officers were attacked in a vicious, organized military-like assault, creating a further divide in an already tense society. And it all stems from hate. Whether it is from distrust, fear or ignorance, it is still hate. This hate will not go away. It is a part of this world, and has been since Adam's fall. It was here before us, and will be here after us, unless Jesus returns to save us from ourselves.

There are those today who are blaming the media, saying its constant reporting is only making things worse. There are those on both sides of the gun control issue, each using this a "proof" of their position. There are even those using this as a political Republican/Democrat battle. I'll not go into the relevance of any of these issues, because they do not actually address the problem. The media is not the issue. Gun control is not the issue. Politics is not the issue. HATE is the issue. HATE is the target we should focus on. HATE is what we must fight.

I've long believed that right and just causes, when fueled by hate, are still wrong and unjust. If God is love as 1 John 4 states, then if follows (vs. 19-21) that anything fueled by hate is not of God. The beginning of this chapter states very clearly that the spirits are to be tested, because not everything is of God. Trouble is, there seems to be more rash judgments than testing of spirits going on.

Then how are we to battle the hate that is consuming our world at a more rapid and rabid pace that ever before. 1 John 4 contains a key to this as well.

"Greater is He in you that he that is in the world" (vs.4)

 

But we cannot use God as our own personal weapon of destruction, releasing a barrage on our enemies, raining fire from above. So then, what? Verse 7 contains that answer.

 

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God"

 

The only way the world will see anything but hate, is to show love, even to those undeserving. (Matthew 5: 43-48) Especially to those undeserving, because they need it most. Jesus cannot operate fully through His church unless His church operates through His love. Without love, all of our "good intentions" and "righteous causes" are no better than a noisy gong or clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13)

 

So in response to the world today, I suggest first, we pray. Then, we reach out to all who are hurting, whose passion and fear and hate drive them on, and show them something revolutionary...love. God's unfailing love. In the fight against hate, this is the only weapon we truly have. The only weapon we need.

Freedom - A History

Freedom - such an incredible concept. A word that inspires, motivates, excites, even promotes sacrifice to the ultimate. The decision to break free from England was not without soul searching, heart wrenching, second and third thoughts, and yes, blood. Because of that, this freedom is precious to us all, and will not be given up to any outside person or government. Any threat, foreign or domestic, will be faced, and God willing, defeated.

Freedom, however, is not free. With great freedom comes great responsibility. Freedom without responsibility results in chaos. Freedom of speech without responsibility results in lies spread as truth, and hatred of another because of race, sex or creed becomes a "right". Freedom of assembly without responsibility becomes mob rule, with violence, injury, even death, a natural outcome. Freedom to bear arms, without responsibility, will create a vigilante society, in which all, in order to defend against irrational men, BECOME irrational men.

In 1776, a group of men gathered together and signed a document written by Thomas Jefferson, declaring their independence from England and their freedom to enjoy their God given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Thirteen independent, sovereign states (read countries), united as one to become free. Problems soon started rising out of this "confederation" of states however, as each state had its own militia, each had its own trade and tariffs, each even had its own separate monies The alliance, held together by some loosely binding "Articles of Confederation" was in danger of falling apart. (Sound familiar - EU?) There was a need to create a new government, binding the colonies together as a republic, and overseeing them all, to ensure the preservation of this new union.

This was not achieved without much turmoil. These individual states would not give up their sovereign status without a fight. In order to agree to form as a union under federal control, certain rights had to be guaranteed, to insure no loss of the freedoms they had just won, no chance they were just trading one tyranny for another. Many states refused to sign this Constitution unless those freedoms were in writing. Even then, they could not all agree on what should be listed, wanting to be sure no state had more power than another.

Finally, after much debate, consultation and compromise, a set of 10 amendments, a "Bill of Rights", was drafted, and agreed to. The importance of these rights cannot be over estimated, becoming the first 10 amendments of this great blueprint of a new government. A Constitution for the United States of America.

Those freedoms are possible because of the strength of the government enforcing them. That government is strong because of the laws, fairly administered, in the articles that follow those rights. They were forged in turbulent times, creating a living document that can and must be adaptable to each generation, in order to preserve the freedoms it protects.

We are once again in turbulent times. It is time for rational men and women to discuss, to argue, to compromise, to find adaptable frameworks to ensure the freedoms we enjoy. Only by finding common ground, and standing together, will we ensure these freedoms for the next generation. To do so will require respect, even in disagreement. It will require solidarity as Americans, not political parity. It will come with turmoil, and conflict and passion. Passion with a fire that will forge a strength to last another 240 years, and more. Happy Birthday America. May God bless you.

The People We Never Were

"Once again IN MEMORIAM. And In Memoriam  for the people we used to be."
- Bette Midler

     The quote above was sent out following the recent Orlando, Florida club shootings, accompanied by a picture of a wreath of white lilies. And I sighed a little, wishing for a sometimes remembered time that was not filled with what seems to be daily tragedies, and the horrific treatment of our fellow humans on this earth, God's beloved creations.

     But as I longed for those past times, I realized my remembrance may be false. Mankind's ability to group itself into categories has been for thousands of years, and its ability to cast judgment on all other categories but its own for only a few days shorter. Judgment creates self-importance, and self-importance, when confronted, creates hate. And hate has been around since the dawn of time.

     The only real difference I see is not the depth of the hatred there (it has always been deep), but the extremely volatile nature it has taken on. More and more, people wear their hate just under the surface of their skin. More and more this thin layer of skin is being exposed, ripped off, with its evil pus spewing out.

     We have tried to conquer hate with logic, with civility, with avoidance, even with laws. Nothing has worked. The only way this sickness can be cured, the only way to become the people, and the country we like to remember ourselves to be, is with Love.

     And not just any love. Not a love of live and let live, that is avoidance. Not a love that looks down on others, that is judgment. The love that will restore us is God. Only He sees us, not in separate categories, not in cliques, but as His children, His creation. ALL fallen, ALL loved-equally. NONE worthy, but ALL loved - equally.

     It is only when we share God's love with each other, that things will change.No walls, just love No judgment (all of us should be judged, because we all fail.), just love. The free, undeserved, unrestricted Love of God, through us. Until then we will never be "the people we used to be." Because we never were. But we can be.

A New Poem - Looking Out at the Rain

It's raining outside.
Some would say "in sheets".
Some would say "torrential".
To me, it seems God turned on
A giant garden hose, then
put His thumb over the edge
of the spout to give it more pressure.
And He's chasing everybody with it.
"Come play" He calls.

It's raining outside.
Even the Summer Sun is
taking a well earned, unscheduled nap
as the street lights come on
at 2 in the afternoon creating
a mysterious glow, as the artificial
light prisms off the wall of rain.
The wall ripples as God breathes on it.
"Come play" He calls.

It's raining outside.
Little streams in the parking lot
gather together to become little creeks that
become flowing rivers, powerfully
traveling where they will.
All this I see from the window by my cube.
Wanting to travel the river to its end.
But my reflection in the window looks at me,
his back to it all, and I turn to the wall and sigh.

God calls.
"Come play".
I walk away.
"Not today".
"It's raining outside."

A Final Comment on Prayer from John Wesley

     Whether we think of or speak to God, whether we act or suffer for him, all is prayer, when we have no other object than his love, and the desire of pleasing him.
All that a Christian does, even in eating and sleeping, is prayer, when it is done in simplicity, according to the order of God, without either adding to or diminishing from it by his own choice (A Plain Account of Christian Perfection, Q 38, 5).

Week Nine - Amen

     Well, here we are at the end of two months. For me, it doesn't seem that long, to others, it may seem a lifetime! I'm posting this ahead because this Friday, I'm having a procedure done that will have me "out of it". I would appreciate if you would "Hold me in the light".

     So, what have we learned in all this? I remember a preacher once telling me the key to a good sermon was tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you told them. This would be the latter part! While there is so much more, this is what we covered.

1. Discipline yourself to prayer.
2. We are given a model to pray by.
3. Pray for, not about, each other.
4. God heals the broken hearted.
5. Forgive others, period.
6. Pray to God not as we think, but as He knows Himself to be.
7. Be Still and Wait - Silence is golden.
8. The Holy Spirit prays for and through us.

     Whew! Prayer seems so...well...complicated. But it's really not. Prayer is, at it's most fundamental, bringing yourself into the presence of God. Removing the barriers that we, not God, put up. Basking in His presence. Communicating. Even though we don't feel worthy, God has made us worthy to come to Him through the blood of Jesus. He sees us, not through Rose Colored glasses, but through Christ's blood that covers us. How beautiful, and precious, and wonderful to be seen as we are, but accepted as what we shall be! Whether it be with beads, at an alter, with scripture, or with simply "Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner", come to Him and often.

     It isn't often I feel the urge to write, as I have these last two months. I do know when I feel that calling, I have no choice but to obey. I don't know if this has been for someone else, or if I needed this for myself. (full disclosure-I did) If this has helped you in anyway, let me know in the comments here or on Facebook. I'd love the feedback.

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 2 Corinthians 13:14

Amen.

Week Eight - Lines Please!

" And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:4

"Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."
Romans 8:26

" Teach me to pray. Pray thyself in me." Francois de la Mothe Fenelon (1651-1715)

     Sometimes when an actor is in rehearsal, he may totally blank out on his character's line. There is a person set up to help with that. The actor can call "Line, please", and the script person will give the next line. Not that I've ever had to, but I've heard. (cough, cough)
     
     Sometimes, we try to avoid prayer, simply because we don't know what to say. It can make for a pretty easy excuse, except that it assumes prayer is only one sided. Sometimes it is because we can't think of what to say, sometimes it is because our desire or hurt is so deep that mere words fail us. Sometimes the pain is as deep as the soul, and the only expression that fits is sounds of despair. I don't know anyone that hasn't at least once felt that inner turmoil.

     Enter the third person of the Trinity, His Royal Highness, the Holy Spirit. He knows our problems and needs even before we do. (Isaiah 65:24) His Spirit dwells within us. (Ephesians 3:16) His Spirit intercedes for us. (Romans 8:26) But this requires trust. A trust that God does know our problems. A trust that God does care. And a willingness to go to Him without preparation, or fine words, or anything at all except our whole selves; body, mind, soul, spirit. Anything less is holding back from Him the knowledge He already has, because He sees from the inside.

     God is looking for an open heart. He will even provide the words, when we have none. As the Psalmist said "A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." (Psalms 51:17)

The Psalm this week is Psalm 42. At first glance, it seems to be a psalm of longing, thirst, even despair, but in actuality, it is a psalm of hope. Pour yourself out to the Lord, and let His healing waters refresh you.