Maybe it’s because it feels like summer.
Maybe I’ve been exposed to too much bad behavior lately.
Either way, I can’t get one of my favorite childhood camp songs out of my head:
“And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”
The song came to mind when I read an incredibly derogatory blog about our Presiding Bishop’s homily at the the royal wedding. It was even written by an Episcopal clergy person. Yes, people have a right to their opinions. However, when they are blatantly racist, it gives me great pause. In our increasingly divisive world, disrespect towards others seems to know no bounds.
Do you believe that some people’s opinions and perspectives, if we disagree with them, warrant our treating or speaking about them in a harsh manner?
Does our faith not inform us about how we are to be in relationship with others?
Would others “know we are Christians by our love?”
As we begin the long journey of the Pentecost season, I wonder what it would be like for those of us who have chosen to follow in the Way of Jesus to frame our perspective toward others – those we agree and disagree with – in the fruits of the Spirit:</p>
“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such
things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its
passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the
Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying
one another.” – Galatians 5:22-26
The season of Pentecost is a great time for us to be reminded that we are called to “live by the Spirit.” When we do so, we learn to value the “dignity of every human being” more highly than our own opinions.
Source: Bishop Brian Prior – By Our Love