STOP IT! ... DO IT!

When will we – together – just say, “STOP IT?!” Tough issues in the church, seem to be an invitation to run to our corners, compose the party line, and come out swinging. After watching about fifteen minutes of the testimony of a whistleblower before a congressional committee, I had to turn it off. I couldn’t take much more. Regardless of what one thinks, or which side one is sympathetic to, it is nauseating to listen to adults flinging conflicting statements and loaded questions like fists. It seemed Orwellian.

We do the same in the church - to our detriment. To those looking in, we look like the dysfunctional political class. We run to our party, go into confabs in the backrooms of restaurants (I’ve literally seen this) and then come out with our marching orders. How does that distinguish us, the people of faith, from the way the world does things?

Jesus made it clear: “Love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Do you want to have an impact for Christ on the world? Love one another – that will tell others that you follow Christ! “DO IT!”

But we argue… publicly. We go along with the party lines, the backroom drama, the lists, we create divisions that, in the end, lead us into yet more conflict. We run plays right out of the devil’s playbook instead of Jesus’.

What can we do? It takes a lot of courage to say, “STOP IT.” The last time that I was nominated to serve as Vice President for Area B of the Texas District, I received an emailed list from a group. My name was one of the ones whom the group encouraged delegates to elect. I "replied all" to that email and basically said, “Please remove my name from this list. I didn’t ask to be on it.” (My response is paraphrased since I don’t remember the exact words with which I actually responded.) I wasn’t angry, I simply didn’t want to play the party game anymore.

During the same time frame, a person from “the opposite party” sent me a list of litmus test type questions that he wanted me to answer. I responded by saying, “I’m not going to respond to the questions. Vote for me if the Spirit so leads you to do. Don’t vote for me if you feel it isn’t the right thing to do.” (Again, a paraphrase of what I remember.)

What will it take to change the culture? Enough people who will stop playing the game. Scriptures (James) warn us that quarreling and speaking evil against a brother, speaks evil against the law. “STOP IT!” The Eighth Commandment says, “STOP IT!” Common sense says, “STOP IT!” So – let’s all just say, “STOP IT.”

Scriptures say, “Love one another…” So, under the Spirit’s leading, “DO IT!”