To suggest the title captures much of the tone and tenor of the Summer-of-2020 is, I think, an understatement.
I truly believe this blog contains one of the most important resources that explains what is happening in our world.
You and I live in an age where the greatest offense we might commit against someone else is to disagree with them.
Let me just write that again. You and I live in an age where the greatest offense we might commit against someone else is to disagree with them.
There is this demand for justice, yet the tone is angry. Amos 5:7 jumps to my mind:
There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground. Amos 5:7
“Casting righteousness to the ground” brings me into the heart of Proverbs—which is all about righteousness.
As a follower of Jesus, how can I be a person of peace, of justice, of righteousness, in the midst of today’s world?
I want to invite you watch at least 30 minutes of a video.
I know that is a long time—but I think it is one of the most important resources I have come across in the last two years to explain what is going on in our world.
It is Michal Ramsden speaking. He does an amazing job explaining the shift in culture that is taking place, here in this video.
If you are rushed for time (who isn’t) then start at minute 13:38.
Michael speaks about what had been two dominant cultures of our day (most of us were raised with them). An “honor culture” and a “dignity culture”.
An Honor culture means, when someone disagrees with you, you defend yourself and respond with honor. The question the “culture” will ask of you is—did you conduct yourself with honor?
A Dignity culture means you defend and respond with dignity. The same question applies—did you conduct yourself, especially when responding to those who disagree with you, with dignity.
Cultures infused with Christianity blend the two.
Today we are moving to a victim-based culture. Today, you have status because of all the terrible things that are happening to you or have happened to you in the past.
The narrative is, “Everything I do as a victim is motivated by love.” But in a victim-based culture, if you disagree with me, “Everything you do is only explained and motivated by hate!” Therefore, any form of disagreement is only explained by hate.
This Summer-of-2020 seems to be one where our spinning world seems only to accelerate with each newly offended person.
Consider God’s Word:
“Better is a dry morsel with quiet, than a house full of feasting with strife” (17:1)—do you feel like in America, especially when compared with most of the world, our house overflowing with plenty—and with plenty of strife?
What should we do?
“Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends” (17:9).
Is God’s Word suggesting we rollover or be runover?
Let me read God’s Word today not with an eye to point at others, but rather to look in the mirror.
The general prevailing attitude today is to be a victim, to be the one offended.
In days long gone, we looked to our leaders to those who lived lives of virtue—those leaders filled our minds and hearts with hope. Today, it seems as our leaders are the ones who cry out for the victim, those offended—and often with the loudest voice and most extreme views.
Loud voices are often angry voices.
I am asking myself how guilty I am of this cultural shift taking hold of me? How do I respond when someone “offends me”? Does their offense provoke “anger” in me?
Proverbs has much to say about anger:
A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated. 14:17
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. 15:18
Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. 19:11
How then should we respond. I suggest we not be silent. I suggest we not be run over.
I suggest we not respond with anger.
God’s Word suggests we respond with love—and as followers of Jesus we know that love ultimately is found at the Cross.
Today, I don’t have a lot of answers. For me, it is more about “knowing the times”, knowing how I don’t want to respond”, and “knowing that our only hope for peace is Jesus”.
I want people to meet Jesus—He is our only hope.
By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.
When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 17:6-7