The current cultural and political climate makes it easy to feel overwhelmed by the river of opinions, ideas, reports, and rants regarding our world’s most sensitive social issues.

Admittedly, I’m one of the masses that has succumbed to hastily forming an opinion based solely on a media headline or article.  Embarrassingly, I must also admit I’ve felt anger towards friends and family members, church goers and non-church goers, based on something he/she said or shared via social media.  And I’m sure I’ve been on the receiving end of those same emotions.

Not only is it overwhelming, but with the nonstop barrage of information, it can become downright discouraging, and without a protective guard, lead to despair.

If the social issues alone do not bother you, the division and strife that so easily rises these days as a result of conflicting opinions and beliefs,  among friends, family members, Christians, non-Christians, coworkers, spouses, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, has probably impacted you in some way.

If you’re a Christian, consider this your gentle reminder: our hope knows no bounds, and it should never be placed on the shoulders of a man or woman, let alone a politician.

To bring clarity, there is only one trustworthy, timeless and unbiased source to guide me through these confusing and disheartening times.  It is the greatest selling book of all time.  And it is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.

How can you be for some or part of life, and not all life?  How can you believe part of a book, but not the whole book?  How can you agree with some sections, but deny other sections?  You’re either all for it, or you’re against all of it.

How should I treat immigrants, refugees, the poor, homeless, the unborn, mentally ill, the outcasts and sinners?  Well, how did Jesus treat them?  What did Jesus have to say about how we should treat them, and more importantly, how did He live out what He taught?

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Immigration/Refugees/The Poor/Homeless:

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.  Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.         Proverbs 31:8-10 
Thus hath Jehovah of hosts spoken, saying, Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother; and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the foreigner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart. Zechariah 7:9-10 
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, Matthew 25:35 
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.  1 John 4:18 

Life of the Unborn:

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;  Proverbs 31:8
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart”          Jer 1:5 
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.[a] Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.  Psalm 139:13-16

Love:

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”  Mark 12:30-31
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Galatians 5:14 
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.  1 John 4:18 

Peace:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14:27 
Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.  Hebrews 12:14
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.  Ephesians 4:15
Unity in the Body of Christ: I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  Ephesians 4:1-3

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“Bear with one another in love”.  We are all human and imperfect works in progress.  Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.  We have one common enemy, and we are all in this together, with all of our unique imperfections, talents, gifts, differences and flaws, like it or not.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

Believe it or not, the enemy is not a Syrian refugee, a Muslim immigrant, an unplanned pregnancy, a passionate protester, democrats, republicans, liberals, conservatives, Donald Trump, Barrack Obama, or any world leader or politician.  The sooner we all realize this and the fact that we’re all on the same ship (and when it’s sinking we’re all going down with it), the sooner we can stop throwing stones.  We can put the stone down, adjust our perspective, and humbly seek peace with one another for something beyond our own selfish interests and desires.

If this seems unfathomable to you, if you have never heard the hope of  peace that transcends all understanding, which can be found through the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, please ask me.  I would love to share with you personally how this peace is a true reality, and it will set you free from the bondage and burdens that are too heavy to bear alone.

Also, if you’ve been searching for answers and you have no idea where to start, I invite you to checkout two places.   The first is my home church, Rooftop, in Affton.  “Come as you are” is our sincere motto, and I promise no matter what your background or how you look or dress, you will be warmly welcomed.  Currently, our pastors are leading a sermon series on The Bible, how we got it, where it came from, why it’s important, etc.  Check it out!  Rooftop Church

The second is an event happening this weekend at Rooftop Church.  It’s called the IF Gathering.  It is geared towards women (sorry guys), but it is open to any and all.  It’s an event to unite for one common purpose, regardless of your church home, denomination, other religious affiliation, or whether or not you have one.  “IF:Gathering exists to gather, equip, and unleash this generation of women to live out their calling.”   IF Gathering  It’s happening this Friday night and all day Saturday.

Lastly, I close with this goal in mind:

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  Micah 6:8