1. Demonization is not godly.
Turn to any page in Paul’s letters and you will find a significant teaching on love and unity. In 1 Corinthians 13, he tells us that nothing we do matters without love. NOTHING. And love "always believes, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Ought not Christians be people who are looking for the best in one another? Shouldn’t we be the ones who seek peace, not draw the lines of battle?
But we tend to demonize those who differ on issues, painting them in the worst possible light and demonstrating more of the works of the flesh than the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-23). Demonizing others is a violation of Scripture. Yes, there are heretics whose views are rightly anathematized, but when we paint the views of brothers and sisters in Christ in the worst possible light and withhold grace, we err. We are to look for the best in others, not assume the worst.
This is all well and good, but we must of course suspend the laws of love and the benefit of the doubt to those of the Reformed persuasion, who are genetically inclined to abuse of children, celebration of rape, and overall denigration and subjugation of women. Hence we can suspend all reason and critical thinking for the sake of warning the world of the Ebola-like danger of believing in the Bible as it is written, and interpreting it in the same way it has been for 1950 years or so. Surprised you didn't know that!
ReplyDeleteMake sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
ReplyDelete