Are you contributing to the chaos?

Are you contributing to the chaos?
Or are you representing the Redeemer? 

Yesterday’s events unfolded before our country in real time. I could only sit agape and experience a number of emotions. It was easy to say, “These actions are horrible.” It was hard to witness a flag with a cross on it and signs with Scripture on them. They don’t speak for me.

Especially with my teenage daughter beside me, wondering: Has it always been like this?
I would say no. No U.S. election has been this extreme.
Then I talk to my friend from a former communist country. She has seen similar behavior before.
Then I talk to a pastor friend, who is Black. He has experienced similar anger before.  

Entitlement and hatred can grow and fester in any heart. There is the potential.
It can happen to me. It can happen to you.
That thought should sober us.

If we’re honest about it, then we can be diligent.
If we think we’re beyond temptation, that can be our downfall.  

If you are a follower of Jesus, together we have a high calling to live out his truth.
It may require confrontation, but we must do so for the purpose of God’s greatness and not any person’s glory; we must do so to honor his image knit into every person’s life.

We must look inward.
We’re all culpable in some aspect.  

But there’s hope.
With Jesus, we’re also all capable of change.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” —Psalm 51:10

(Photo by © Steve Carr 2017)