Embracing grace defeats division. Lower the temperature on social media by sharing Jesus’ powerful story from John 8 of love and mercy in the face of anger and judgment.
Gone are the days where moderates capture votes across party lines. Social media and Artificial Intelligence threaten to further push centrists toward the fringes. Christians contribute to divisiveness when they point fingers, something Jesus did only at those passing judgment on “sinners”.
We carry stones anytime we lose sight of our sinful nature and draw lines in stone rather than circles in sand. Fully grasping God’s mercy in light of our depravity means turning the other cheek, even as we’re being bombarded with stones, rather than picking them up to throw back.
When religious leaders brought the woman caught in adultery before Jesus, His response was, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone”. With “hearts of stone” they reluctantly dropped their stones and walked away.
The Lord is seeking those eager to #DropMyStone and walk toward those across the political and religious aisle – willing to understand, not just be understood. He is looking for dual citizens – of a Kingdom and a democracy – to stem the widening division in our nation!
Christians already face stiff headwinds, largely due to lashing out on social media at those with whom we disagreed during recent Presidential elections. Our ability to speak into our culture will diminish further if the tone of our responses to anti-Christian rhetoric reflects anger and not the love of Jesus.
Christians regain our voice in the marketplace of ideas when we earn the right to be heard by loving our “enemies”. Now is the perfect time, during this critical period in our nation’s history, for unexpected, counterintuitive, and jaw-dropping acts of kindness.
If Christians miss another ideal opportunity to replace anger with Agape, the damage may be irreversible. In 2025, let’s choose a “ground attack” of kindness, not an “air assault” of dropping verbal bombs on political “opponents”.
Now is the time to take a stand for Jesus. The risks and urgency have never been greater!
