And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. Luke 6:33

For some reason, I’ve been feeling the hate that is dividing people more lately. There are probably a lot of reasons for it.

It could be:

• the vitriol being spewed by our leading politicians.
• the increase in gun violence and mass shootings.
• the lack of care for others that is on display on our social media
• the fact that people are wishing harm to the rich people lost at sea because they are angry that governments are ignoring refugees
• the increased visibility of swastikas, klan symbols, proud boys, Hitler quotes.
• the constant introduction of legislation meant to exclude rather than include.
• the flags, stickers, hats, signs, social media posts that call people names and wish them harm.

As a Christian, I am emotionally exhausted. It’s hard to live up to the expectations set before us when people are constantly yelling in our faces. I want to yell back. I want to call them names too. But God says no. God told us to approach people gently. Jesus demonstrated that to us again and again and again. We are allowed to share how we feel about people, language, and actions. We are allowed to say that some things are not acceptable to us. We aren’t allowed to do those things with hate in our hearts. And we aren’t allowed to use hurtful words or condemn those with whom we disagree.

Colossians 4:5-6 – Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Romans 14:13 – Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

I have promoted and taken part in two celebrations this month that some consider to be controversial. I was honored to join LGBTQIA+ members of the Indianapolis Fire Department in the Indy Pride Parade. As their Chaplain, I am proud to be counted as a friend and ally. I want it to be known that I support them and their families. I want them to know that I will always stand up to intolerance and fight for their equity and equality in this world. I want them to know that God loves each and every one of them and so do I. And I do this for everyone in this city and beyond. If anyone you know needs a pastor or just a hug from one, reach out to me.

Proverbs 16:24 – Gracious words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Juneteenth is another event that has become controversial. I don’t understand the backlash against this event. Celebrating the day that all Americans were finally free from slavery makes sense to me. When the Declaration of Independence was written, it was an aspirational document. The men who wrote and signed this letter knew our fledging country wasn’t meeting those expectations, but they put them out there anyway. I believe that these same men who wrote the Constitution that did not offer equality to black people, women, or non-landowning men knew that planting that seed in the Declaration would mean that our country would get there eventually. If these men found that document to be perfect, they would have never created a way to amend it.

Proverbs 15:4 – A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Both of these events celebrate Americans. We celebrate Americans in all kinds of ways, St. Patrick’s Day celebrates Irish Americans, Labor Day celebrates working Americans, and Memorial & Veteran’s Days celebrate American Servicemen and women. We have all kinds of festivals for ethnic groups and interest groups. We’ve been celebrating ourselves for decades. I don’t see the controversy in adding more celebrations to our list. If America is the land of immigrants and the place where those who are oppressed elsewhere come to seek a better life, then we should glory in our rich diversity.

Zechariah 7:9-10 – This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’

It seems the Bible is right when it said we go through seasons. There was a season in our not-too-distant past when Italians, Irish, Germans, Chinese, Japanese, Catholics, etc. were ostracized. Once again, we are seeing arguments about public spaces and who gets to be there. The truth is that the current argument about who uses which bathroom isn’t about bathrooms, no more than who uses which water fountain was about water in Jim Crow. It’s about being ok with sharing our public spaces with others.

Colossians 3:12 – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

God created all of this and all of us. He didn’t create the world for us to use as a club against each other. He created us all differently so that we could be of help to each other, not tear each other down. My warning dear friends is to be careful what you do or say online and in person. Be careful what signs you carry or stickers you put on. It’s so easy to get carried away online or in a group. Before we let our anger or dislike take control and take it too far, remember the warning we received from James. These verses scare me more than most because I know what thoughts of mine have not remained unsaid.

James 3 – Taming of the Tongue

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.