For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing. Romans 7:15; 18-19
Former U.S. President Harry Truman followed a practice Christians can learn from, especially as we make use of rapid-response, write-first-think-later aspects of social media. Mr. Truman realized any time he wrote an angry memo or letter, his words would cut more deeply because of his title and power. So whenever he wrote in anger, he would pin the memo or letter to his desk for 24 hours, and only send it after he'd reviewed it with a cooler head. Almost none of those letters were mailed, and years after his death, they were all found stuffed in a desk drawer. (see Strictly Personal and Confidential: The Letters Harry Truman Never Mailed by Monte Poen; The Book Service Limited, 1982).
We Christians sit in the same position today. Our reputations are being sullied by our own words and actions, even when we're defending the correct side of an issue or a belief! It's as if we're still prisoners to our sin-natures, only now we're loaded like cannons to do word wars for Jesus.
How we say what we say is every bit as important as what we say.
Ah, but there's so much more to it than just restraint. So often we fail to realize the more hateful we are, the more people are going to look for ways to strike back at us. In fact, atheists, agnostics and anti-Christian writers often describe a strategy they use that (almost) always works: Say something offensive about Jesus, God or Christians, and then sit back and record all the hateful things they say in response---then use their own words against them!
Notice how almost no one goes after Jesus directly? How they come after His followers instead? It's because in their heart of hearts, people want to believe Jesus and His message of love and mercy.
Think about your own words this week? Were they compassionate? Forgiving? Helpful? Or did they attack someone who attacked us first? Did they insult someone who isn't living like we think they should be living? Even in the public issues that are so important to our country, we are better off being silent and losing votes and privileges than spouting off in unloving and sometimes hate-filled diatribes. God has men and women in place whose voices will lovingly stand up to the issues that matter, but they can only be heard if the rest of us stifle our desires for judgment and revenge.
In 2012, it became popular for professional football players to speak out against bullying, and many did in moving and memorable ways. But then the referees went on strike and men with less experience were placed in a job that was over many of their abilities. What did the anti-bully, pro athletes do? Hover over the refs in intimidating fashion, bullying and belittling them on and off the field in order to win a call, a point, or even the day. I assure you every young person, bully and bullied, noticed the hypocrisy of these well-meaning athletes who couldn't see themselves clearly. Too often, we Christians get caught in this same double-speak, sharing Christ's words of love and mercy when we're calm, but spilling out harsh and unloving rhetoric when caught up in a debate, or when attacked.
Let's not be those people anymore. Let's be the ones who resist the taunts and attacks; the ones who refuse to strike back. Let's be the first to love and protect those who we think may need help; regardless of what state they're in or how they got to where they are right now. (Reflect on the hymn Just As I Am, which describes the state in which Jesus received us.)
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