Watching and Doing

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The world can be ugly. Look no further than the constant news cycle or social media feeds to be bombarded by negativity. The headlines are alarming, and the content is alarmingly vicious. Everything from mass shootings to suicide bombings; daily uncovering of sexual-harassment and rape allegations; police brutality and domestic violence.  Hate speech, intolerance at every level, and mean-spiritedness fill tweets and posts – attacking people based on the way someone looks, their politics, or their beliefs. Children are being bullied at school, while adults are bullied at work. Even the Church is not immune with Brothers and Sisters lashing out at one another and joining in and slinging the muck.

This week, I read the following posts in response to the killing of a police officer in Baltimore:

• "I personally am tired of good for nothing hood rats committing adult crimes and people STILL saying crap like, he had hard times growing up, society made him do these things, because he had no role models."
• "I hope all you whites have the same level of outrage the next time one of your youths decide to shoot up a school of innocent children," another wrote. "You all are a disgusting group of devils."

While people have a right to their opinion and to “speak their truth,” they also have a responsibility to voice them in a constructive manner that will not instigate further hurt or division. Many of us can comb through our timelines or online news comments and find much worse. All of this can be difficult to digest at times. But is it really meant to be digested? Do we have to sit at trouble’s table and gorge on spiritual and emotional junk food until we gag and vomit?

We absolutely do NOT! The Word tells us in 1 Peter 2:1-3 "Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.  Like newborn infants, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good."

I am not saying that we should become desensitized to the world around us. In fact, we SHOULD CARE.  Romans 12:2 states: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” What I am saying is that we must mobilize and become a part of the solution, instead of exacerbating the problem.

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All of us as saints, servants, and citizens have a responsibility to take a stand on what is right, moral, and true, and to turn away from what is wrong, immoral, and lies. The problem is that many of us have become spectators – no more than voyeurs looking to see and laugh at or turn our noses up at the next train wreck. Sometimes, we even cause the wrecks! We take up the first word of Matthew 26:41 and we watch, but we fail to pray. We watch for the mere sport of it and become ourselves ensnared in the various temptations that we were supposed to be rectifying.

We need to be the change. We need to be better as human beings than what we are. Each - one – of- us! We have the power to change our world – if not for ourselves – then for the next generations.  We all have assignments. They may be different, but we all have them. If God has called you to pray, then pray. If God has called you to give, then give. If God has called you to teach or train, then teach and train. If God called you to change laws, then change laws.  Whatever He has called you to do – to make things better for someone else, then DO it! We must also:

1. Turn to God.
2. Stop looking at other people – whether that’s at their flaws or at their virtues.  
3. Step away from things, people and situations that are not edifying.
4. Posture ourselves accordingly.

The world can be ugly, but it’s not just filled with ugliness.  It is filled with a wealth of beauty, but it needs you to help excavate it. Be blessed.

Scriptures for further study:

• If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14:
• Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8

©2018 by Antoinette V. Barber