Thoughtful observers of the current state of our nation, regardless of political ideology agree on this point – There is an atmosphere of bitter anger permeating the country. Of course, politicians and partisan pundits blame "the others" of being the angry ones.
What has led to this hostility? I believe the answer is complex-— I believe just about everything in our society has become politicized and polarized: the air we breathe, the climate, our beliefs and traditions, education, news, sports, skin color, gender and national origins.
People have become passionate about the issues of the day and the influencers who dominate the public airwaves throw fuel on these divergent passions emphasizing or demonizing those who hold opposing viewpoints.
One top social media executive giant is reported to believe the country is so polarized along political lines that we are literally in a second civil war! He is a Democrat who advocates drastic steps be taken to eliminate the Republican Party because he disagrees with their politics.
The anger of those on opposite ends of issues has led to ugly comments peppered throughout with obscenities, vulgarity, name-calling, demonizing, shaming, marginalizing, and shutting down honest, open debate.
Ironically, the God of the universe encourages debate: Isaiah 1:18, "Come now and let us reason together with the Lord…"
Todays’ white hot heated anger will not allow cooler heads to prevail as such truth and civility has become victims and when that happens the loss of freedom can't be far away.
God instructs a husband and wife: Ephesians4:26 "Be ye angry and sin not let not the sun go down upon your wrath.
Those two injunctions may seem mutually exclusive, but they are not. They are in fact the broad outlines of a process for heading off potentially overheated passions – not letting the sun go down on one’s anger advice to talk out issues and not letting them fester and grow as to bring closure to disagreements.
The verse also says we’re not victims of our anger – we have a measure of control over our thoughts and feelings. As hard, as it is to work out disagreements God tells us we have the capacity with His help to do just that! Working through angry feelings keeps them from degenerating into negative behaviors.
The angry hate fest we see happening before our very eyes and ears demonstrates the very real consequences of disregarding the wisdom and admonition of God’s Holy word: In giving permission to fridge base left or right public figures are opening a door to the hell of unbridled negative human behavior which God labels sin – we can’t allow ourselves to be drawn in or unmoved and apathetic to this latest downgrading of our traditional Biblical values.
French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville noted “America is great because America is good” Are we? In my heart, I want to believe there is a wide swath of middle Americans who are still trusting God and His word. But on America’s fringes, our reputation is in tatters!
Proverbs 11:11 “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted but is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.”
God admonishes that even our words have the power to destroy – tear apart a nation.
As Christians, we must bring salt and light to the conversation of the day.
Pray for our country – Christ alone is the answer – whatever the question may be!