December 24
Standing for Truth
in a Confused World
"Save those who are being led away to death. Hold back those who are about to be killed. Don’t say, ‘But we didn’t know anything about this.’ The God who knows what you are thinking sees it. He is the one who guards your life. He knows. He will pay each person back for what they have done."
Proverbs 24:11-12 (NIrV)
Lee slammed his beer down on the bar, the amber liquid sloshing dangerously close to the edge. "This 'woke' culture," he growled, "it's destroying everything. People are losing their minds!"
His friend, Mark, raised an eyebrow. "What are you on about, Lee?"
"Everything! This political correctness, this obsession with identity... it's all a load of rubbish. People are so easily offended these days. You can't even have an opinion anymore without someone calling you a racist or a bigot."
"Come on, Lee," Mark said, "It's about being respectful, about understanding different perspectives."
"Respectful? They want to erase history, rewrite the classics! It's madness, I tell you. They're trying to brainwash everyone."
Lee's voice was rising. He felt a surge of anger, a sense of righteous indignation. He saw himself as a defender of truth, a lone voice against the tide of cultural insanity.
Mark sighed. "Lee, you're sounding a bit paranoid. Maybe you're seeing enemies where there are none."
But Lee wasn't convinced. He continued to rant, his anger fueling his words. He felt a sense of isolation, like he was the last bastion of common sense in a world gone mad.
Suddenly, a verse from the Bible he had read that morning echoed in his mind: "Rescue those who are being taken away to death; keep back those who are stumbling to the slaughter."
The words struck him like a thunderbolt. Was he truly "rescuing" anyone with his anger and fear-mongering? Or was he simply contributing to the division and hatred he decried?
He looked at Mark, his friend's face a mixture of concern and amusement. "You know," Lee said, his voice mellowing, "You have a point. Maybe I'm letting my fear get the better of me."
He took a deep breath, the anger beginning to subside. He realized that true strength wasn't about condemning others, but about extending grace, about seeking understanding, about loving one's neighbor as oneself.
He knew that everyone deserves respect, regardless of their beliefs. He also knew that people can be sincerely wrong and still be loved.
He decided to approach his interactions with more humility and empathy, focusing on building bridges instead of walls so as to introduce Christ to others. What is certain is that he would continue to live by Biblical standards and not from a lost secular World.
Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for my anger and my fear.
Help me to see the world through your eyes, with compassion and understanding.
Give me the courage to engage in respectful dialogue, to listen with empathy, and to work towards healing and reconciliation.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
