There appears to be a tremendous lack of civility in our country today, especially as the election heats up. Abusive words (Bigot, hypocrite, hater, libetard, democrap, whacko, right wing nut job and many more) are tossed out at any moment with no thought given to the depth of the crassness. In America, we have forgotten how to disagree with sensibility and respect. We are so quick to demonize anyone who has a view opposing ours. We want to label and call them names rather than listening and reasoning with them. We have lost the ability to disagree in a respectful manner which allows for resolution or, at least, peace. Before you think I am speaking about the group which opposes your particular view, I am speaking to your group. Rarely do we see meaningful, thoughtful dialogue about any issue. The past few years has ushered in a new wave of vitriol and antagonism which has caused deep fissures in our country.
We often forget that in the Constitutional Convention of 1787, there were major disagreements. The disagreements were over how the legislatures would be chosen. They
decided the new congress would have 2 houses, a Senate in which all
states would be equally represented by 2 senators, and a lower House of
Representatives in which the number of delegates would be apportioned
based on state population. State legislatures would appoint Senators
every six years, while the people would elect representatives to the
House every two years. The new congress had all the powers it had under
the Articles of Confederation but also had the power to levy taxes. They disagreed over the issue of States rights, the power of the federal government, slavery and host of other issues. However, their disagreements allowed them to develop what is regarded by many historians as the greatest document in human history - The American Constitution. Did the delegates disagree? Yes. Did they have major obstacles? Yes. Did one side get their way? No. Did they compromise and develop a guiding document for the United States of America? Yes. The disagreed, but were still able to reconcile those disagreements in compromise. Think what America would be like if there were no document unifying the states. Each state would be her own country with her own laws and government. The UNITED States would have ended before she even started. Perhaps the quote by Tomas Jefferson below puts this into perspective.
This level of antagonism and demonizing of people was so evident this past week. Last Wednesday, my family and I chose to eat at the nearest Chick-Fil-A, which is about 30 minutes away. We arrived at 3:15, finally got to place an order by 4:00 and had our food arrive by 4:30. Why did it take so long? The place was packed with several hundred people. The owner told me that over 3,000 people had come to eat at the restaurant and they actually ran out of food at 4:30 and had to send people away. Some people came because they wanted to support freedom of speech. Some came to support Biblical marriage. Some came to support the right of a company's owner to speak his mind. Some came because they like the food. Yet in the midst of this long wait, no one was impatient or upset about the wait. It was actually rather festive. I have never been in a crowded restaurant with that kind of atmosphere. Of over 3,000 people who came to the restaurant that day, only one protested. She was quoted as saying that in the long line of people, all she could see were people who supported discrimination, hatred and bigotry. That's kind of a broad, sweeping statement to make about 3,000 people whom you have never taken the time to meet of get to know. Here is a link to the news report if you want to watch it. Oh, you can also see my family and I leave the restaurant after eating at the 16 second mark. So I guess we are stars.
Okay, many of you may get angry that I even mentioned Chick-Fil-A because you feel they are a company full of bigotry and hatred. The point of this Sip is not to entice anger or get a rise out of anyone. I simply want to point out the fact that Americans have lost the ability to disagree with respect. So, let's try this. On Saturday, my wife and I went to Oakland to support the passage of Prop 35. Here in California, the penalty for pimping/sexually exploiting women is much less than for dealing drugs. So there is an epidemic of men taking your women, girls and boys and forcing them to work the streets in prostitution. Prop 35 will raise the penalties for this crime and make it easier to prosecute and make the penalty more fitting of the crime. We met with over 300 others and marched through Oakland, down one of the streets where this pimping take place to raise awareness and support for the passage of Prop 35. Most of the reception was positive, but there were those in the shadows who were agitated and angry. Marchers had some wonderful discussions with people on the streets, but there was a palpable spiritual tension in the air. My wife and I decided to let people know what we support rather than spending our energy boycotting what we don't support or trying to tell people how wrong they are. We just don't feel that is productive in our world today. Too many people in America want to tell you what they are against, but can never tell you what they actually affirm. We affirm the right of women and girls to live in freedom and without fear of being taken hostage to the sex trade.
On March 21, 2011, Brian Stow was attending a baseball game in Los Angeles as his beloved San Francisco Giants played the LA Dodgers. After the game, he was beaten, suffering a brain injury. Why did this attack take place? Because Brian Stow had the audacity to cheer for his team at the opponents' ball park. This is another example of how out-of-control our conversations have become. Brian Stow is a husband and father, and this attack has irreparably affected his life and the life of his family...all over a baseball game. As much as my son and I love to watch the Giants play, we would never to go LA to watch the Giants play because of this attack.
What does this have to do with faith in Christ and Hillcrest Baptist Church? Simply this: Though our world has no room for disagreements, in the church this should not be. We can disagree without being disagreeable. We can have meaningful dialogue about things in which we disagree. The church is not a homogenous group where everyone thinks the same and does the same. The world may define us that way, but they don't see the incredible diversity in our church. We have a variety of ages, races, socio-economic levers, education levels, etc. The only way we can have unity is if we are truly filled with the Spirit. The Holy Spirit allows us to accomplish Ephesians 4:2, which says "Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in agape." Great words to live by. It would be nice if our world would do the same, but since they aren't saved and don't have the Holy Spirit to guide them, this is just a pipe dream. However, in the Church, we get to experience this every day. We cannot change the temperature of dialogue in America, but we can certainly impact lives on Sunday mornings. So have you been patient with your fellow brother or sister in Christ? Have you been bearing with them, even when they let you down? Have you stood beside them when they fell or struggled? Our greatest testimony in the world today is the respect and agape love we share with each other. People are longing for and looking for that type of real and authentic love. May this Sip give you the strength to call someone, write someone or e-mail someone to encourage them in their walk of faith. May you be given a reserve of patience and energy to love those who test your patience. May we truly love others the way Christ has loved us!
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