Today’s Scripture
Reading (December 10, 2017): Acts 6
We react with anger as
our first option. It doesn’t matter what the subject matter is, if we disagree,
we do so angrily. Angela Lansbury weighs into the sexual harassment controversy
with words that we don’t think we agree with, and we respond with anger. We
blame her and her generation and her beliefs without once asking what it is
that she meant by her comment. We lift one phrase out of a broader commentary
and ignore all of the rest of what she had to say. Eugene Peterson makes a comment in favor of
gay marriage (marginally), and we attack his reputation, his ability to sell
books, and make a commitment that no one will ever read “The Message” again in
our churches. No one asks the question of clarification; we just attack.
For me, these are some of
the disturbing things about life. If we
never have the discussion, how can we learn? If blame and accusation are the
only tools we have in our communication bags, how can we work toward peace and
unity in our world? We can’t – not until we learn to communicate better.
I have to admit that
neither Angela Lansbury nor Eugene Peterson are
from “my generation,” and yet I will defend their ability to weigh in on the
issues of the day. After 92 years (Angela Lansbury) and 85 years (Eugene
Peterson) both have earned the right to be heard - really heard – without our
anger getting in the way. Even if we disagree, we can do so privately. They have
earned at least that much.
Of course, part of our
anger is that they might just be speaking truth from the other side of the
discussion. The truth usually exists somewhere between them and us. I know that we do not want to admit that. I can’t
imagine a hotter topic right now than LGBTQ issues in the church, which
includes gay marriage. What frightens me is the polarization that even the suggestion
of this topic produces in Christian
circles. And, to be brutally honest, there are people that I highly respect on
both sides of the debate. I see the Holy Spirit in the actions of those on both
sides of the agenda, and that is terrifying. But I believe that what God is
trying to do is to lead us away from our anger and into a discussion with each other. We need to begin
the conversation together if we are ever going to arrive at the truth.
There was a racial
problem in the early church. The needed and promised support was going to the
Jewish widows, but not to the Greek widows. The apostles, who were Hebrew, needed to find a solution. And so they
appointed seven leaders with Greek-sounding
names. Were they actually Greek? We don’t
know. Some argue that there were Hebrews with Greek names included in the group.
But there is at least the appearance that a conversation was started between the
Hebrew and Gentile church, with leadership from both sides available and
working toward a solution. Was there anger between the two parties? Most definitely. But that anger dissipated in the presence of real
conversation. It always does, but first,
we need to be ready to talk.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Acts 7
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