March
19, 2012
Christ United Methodist Ministry
Center
“Christ
in the Heart of San Diego”
3295
Meade Avenue
San
Diego, CA 92116
(619)
284-9205
Pastorgraphs: “Former
Friends”
I had to let a couple of my friends
go last week. I still love them, but I just couldn’t take it anymore. So I
logged onto Facebook and “de-friended” them.
One posted a political cartoon with
images of a presidential candidate’s logo coming out the south end of a north
bound cow. Guess he thought it was funny, or might influence his “friends” to
vote for another candidate. I have a lot less respect for him. He is a
minister, I’m sad to say. And he is no longer one of my BFFs.
Another was an image of a dog
pooping on a newspaper with the face of a political candidate turned in such a
way as to get the full brunt of the dog’s “business”. We will always be former
classmates, but she is now another former friend.
I doubt my posting any crude thing
will convert a Republican to become a Democrat, a Baptist to become a
Presbyterian, or an Ole Miss Rebel to suddenly love the Mississippi State
Bulldogs. And neither will offensive cartoons sway me to follow the leader.
I’m just sick and tired of the venom
with which we talk to and about each other. As Christians, we should set a
better example.
“But I say unto you, That every idle word everyone shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36)
Some folks are going to have a lot
of accounting to do at the pearly gates.
And…
“… the tongue is a fire, a world of
iniquity:
… the tongue … defiles the whole
body,
and sets on fire the course of
nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
For every kind of beasts, have been
tamed of mankind:
But the tongue can no man tame;
it is an unruly evil, full of deadly
poison.
Therewith bless we God, even the
Father;
and therewith curse we men, which
are made after the similitude of God.
Out of the same mouth proceeds
blessing and cursing.
My brethren, these things ought not
so to be.” (James 3:6-10)
We do not speak with impunity. A famous
radio talk personality recently said the most crude and vile things about a
young woman (the daughter of a United Methodist pastor, by the way). It spoke
volumes more about him than the person he was attacking.
While we plead for civility among
those in Washington and in the media, we should be aware that with Facebook and
blogs and email, we now have a giant megaphone that amplifies every word we
speak or write.
My mother used to tell us she would
wash our mouths out with soap if we used nasty, ugly or unkind words. I didn’t
believe her. But I can still recall the taste of Dial soap! Really!
Yes, the politicians and media need
to clean up their language. But so do we all. Including me. Including you.
“Be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath
forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
So let’s resolve to live by these
wise words of wisdom:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true,
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good
report;
if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise,
think on these things.” (Philippians
4:7-9)
Otherwise, let’s resolve to keep a
moment of silence.
Devotedly, Brother Bill
From the Quote Garden
“One man cannot hold another man
down in the ditch
without remaining down in the ditch
with him.”
~ Booker
T. Washington ~
No comments:
Post a Comment