We Must Do Better

Last Sunday, we cancelled services due to the weather.  While we were home hunkered in our basement with the gas fireplace glowing, I turned on the TV and happened upon the church services at one of the local churches in Wichita.  This congregation has been broadcasting their services for many, many years, and I have been in their building several times.

The minister giving the sermon, a woman, was talking about the recent vote by her denomination to restrict ordination of LGBTQ people as well as restrict the performing of marriages of LGBTQ people.  Her comments showed her obvious bias against the vote of the denomination and her favoring of both issues.

That didn’t bother me all that much.  People hold different opinions about issues such as this.  Much of the difference centers on one’s interpretation of Scripture, and how much one reads into the command to “love one-another.”  Obviously, I believe my opinion on the issues is the correct one; otherwise, I would hold to a different opinion.  And, obviously, she believes her opinion on the issues is the correct one; otherwise, she too would hold to a different opinion.

What DID bother me, though, was that several times she said that those of us who hold different opinions are haters.  That we have hate in our hearts.  That we hate those who are different that we are.  We were all thrown into the same mold.  We were stereotyped.  There was no room for respectful disagreement while we exercised the command to “love one-another.”  We were haters.

I have to wonder just how much true love this woman has for those of us who happen to disagree with her.  To call someone that one doesn’t know a hater is, in my mind, close to the pinnacle of irresponsibility, ignorance, and extreme bias.  Speech such as that serves only to further divide, not heal.  Speech such as that is not fitting for any kind of religious setting where Jesus Christ is held up as the example of true love.

We are all guilty of what this woman did on Sunday morning.  We all tend to paint all who disagree with us with the same brush.  We all stereotype.  We all categorize.  We all are guilty.

As Christians, we must do better.  As Christians, we must listen more and talk less.  As Christians, we must, as best we can, remove our biases and prejudices.  As Christians, we must take the WHOLE of Scripture into account when forming an opinion.  As Christians, we must love with both words and actions.  As Christians, we must refrain from division-causing speech or deeds.

What this woman said was not becoming of her, her denomination, her vocation, or her congregation.  It was petty, mean, divisive, and seemed almost hateful in itself.   We can do better.  We must do better.