^“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

With the events of the last few days— from the jury’s decision to the riots in the streets (which overshadows the number of peaceful protests to be sure), we are living in some sad and shameful days.

I watch with interest the social media that, of course, is filled with comments and opinions.  Our great nation – and the democracy that sustains her – allows us such freedoms.  There are quite a number of positive, thought provoking thoughts and ideas to consider.  I’m grateful for those sharings that inspire and move us into prayer and a sense of compassion.

However (there’s always a “however”), most of what is posted is filled with anger and prejudice.  It saddens me, and I must admit, it does what it is intended to do – it angers me.  Thanks to the help of the Holy Spirit—I have held my tongue, via my fingers on my keyboard—even though I think I do have something to say.

That is, in essence, the foundation of the problem.  With the democratic privilege aside, when everyone becomes the expert in every situation, we border a time where it is hard to find the difference with what is right and what is wrong with society, with government, and with our own great country.

For me, it’s “Reformation gone wild.”  Martin Luther, long ago, saw to it—amid great consternation from the established church of the day—that the Holy Scriptures were placed into the hands of the common person.  Luther is credited with doing many things, but for me the greatest one thing he did was just that:  putting God’s Word into the hands of the people.  In essence, everyone then became a learner of God’s grace, and, a provider for each’s family to be instructed in the way to live lives for Christ.  Luther is also credited with the idea that everyone has an office to serve, all equal when our daily jobs are done to the glory of God and His kingdom. But, when our jobs and thoughts do not center around Jesus, I believe we quite possibly lose the privilege to speak or represent anyone or anything.

Humanity is good at taking the best God and His Church has to offer and tarnish it.  You don’t have to go far in the Bible to see this.  Adam, Eve, and the Garden of Eden is the case in point.  God gives the perfect situation.  The two living there made a choice (their own decision) and it was wrong.  Thus, life and the world were never the same.  Entitled to their own opinions and decisions, (which was about themselves and not God) they jeopardized the life we all share.

We are ancestors of these two.  When given choices—which includes the decision to share our feelings and opinions—we often speak without first praying, thinking, or considering the consequences.  It becomes all about “me,” and not about others (which Christ at the center of our thinking).  Might we still be in Eden if Adam and Eve had thought through the decision to gain knowledge of good and evil?  I don’t know.

We risk each time we take the gift of our daily office and God’s Word and abuse it by quickly, and emotionally, offering an opinion.  There is great temptation to throw the concept of respecting others out the window.  That’s where prayer can help.  It centers us in what it most important.

In every situation of every day, each one of us needs to—first—be responsible for our own faith, our own actions, as well as our own prejudices (of which we all have).

Trust your judgment—to be sure—but only after much thought and prayer—and—consideration of God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness.  How can our words build up and not tear down?  How can our actions support the peace that often passes us by in this life?

Know that God loves you no matter what, and we in turn, need to reflect His love with others, and all other situations.  Violence begets violence; love begets love and understanding, appreciation and forgiveness.  This Thanksgiving let this be our motto and our stance.

God loves you and so do we!

Pastor Jim