Days 295, 296 & 297: Acts 27-28; Philippians; Philemon; Colossians

Does it seem to you that people are more angry than they used to be? Or am I just getting old and soft? I enjoy playing Yahoo Hearts. It's a fun game that requires some strategy and a lot of luck. As you play you can also chat with the other players. Once in a while there is some friendly back and forth but I really wouldn't call most of the dialog that goes on "chatting". A lot of it is very angry and hate-filled. There's a lot of insulting the other players intelligence as well as some much more offensive stuff. I find myself wondering if, in the anonymity of the internet, what we are seeing is the real person that stays hidden when they are involved in face to face conversations. You can see the same thing in many of the comments to blog posts or on-line articles.

If this stuff is really in the hearts of the people we deal with on a day to day basis then there is a LOT of anger out there. People are not happy. And, if I'm totally honest, I find it in my own heart way more often then I like.

Sadly, God's own people aren't all that much better. How often do we hear Christians spew hatred at "liberals", "fundamentalists", Muslims, atheists, the biased media (liberal and conservative), or any number of other people they consider their enemy? And when I say "spew hatred" I don't mean respectful dialog and disagreement and debate. These things are healthy when undergirded with a mutual love and respect for the other person's intrinsic worth. What I'm referring to are the personal insults and attacks that are designed to hurt and denigrate. It embarrasses me. Surely it must also be an embarrassment to Christ.

But it's not just in our attitudes with non-believers. Over the years, I've often been amazed at the disrespect I've seen between Christ-followers who disagree. Don't misunderstand...I've seen some great examples of people who handle their differences in a mature, loving manner. These people are the examples I try (with varying degrees of success) to emulate. But it seems to me they are the exceptional ones.

The scripture I read today seemed to hit on this theme over and over. Here are a few samples:

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:1-4)

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. (Philippians 2:14-16)

Let your gentleness be evident to all. (Philippians 4:5)

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14)

When I consider Paul's situation when he wrote these things, and everything he went through that led up to his imprisonment, I realize that if anyone had a reason to be filled with anger it was him.

I also realize that if the people of God would actually put these things into practice in all their relationships then we would indeed "shine like stars."