“The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.” 2 Tim. 2:24-25
Heavenly Father, as hair-trigger anger, mean-spirited tirades, and weaponized-stereotypes continue, I ask myself, “Am I becoming like this—even internally? Is this the way I’m starting to express my opinions, react to differences, and participate in our culture? I pray it’s not.”
“Must not be quarrelsome… must be kind… not resentful… gently instructing”—this quartet of grace-admonitions indicts us, and invite us. Our only hope is to overcome cancel-culture with Gospel-culture. Please pour out your Spirit upon us. We desperately need revival. May honoring Jesus be more compelling than winning an argument.
Conflict is inevitable, redemptive conflict is not. It takes hard and heart work. Convict us when we lose sight of the occupied throne of heaven (Rev. 4), and flat-out forget the Gospel. You’ve warned us. If we keep biting and devouring one another, we will destroy each other (Gal. 5:15).
Rather than us “turning over tables” onto each other, would you “turn the tables” on this epidemic of madness and meanness? It actually feels worse than the Covid pandemic.
May your kingdom come, and your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Soon, Father, soon. So very Amen we pray, in the mercy-full and mighty name of Jesus.