giving honor is doing good

It sure is easy to join the Snarky band wagon these days.  Complainers to the right of me.  Complainers to the left of me.  Into the Valley of Negativity charge the in-search-of-light brigade.

Critics are loud and forceful.  Every one of them is convincing in a pushy sort of way.  It is reminiscent of the slick car rental salesman trying to sell you their bargain insurance that you really don’t need. “Boo!“ to those who use deceit to take advantage of others for selfish gain!

People of faith, those who want to follow the Savior, get sucked all too easily into the morass of the world of criticism.  But, has the real badge of faith been dulled and forgotten? The Savior wants us to be known for our love not our well-articulated feisty opinion.

If I want to hear any vitriol about our current POTUS, then all I need to do to get an earful is travel to a Blue state and join in a conversation or two.  However, if I want to hear complaints about the last President, then all I need to do is listen to folks in a Red state.  What is nearly impossible to discover are a large number of those who represent the Savior who can honor both men.  Isn’t that sad?

After all, the Bible says, “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” (1 Peter 2.17)  The context of this exhortation for believers living in difficult times is clear from the previous verses, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to the governers … For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.” (1 Peter 2.13-15)

In a day when the world is pushing people to take up the banner of one side or the other, Christians should hold up a different flag.  We can live on a higher level for the world’s sake.  Let’s show them a life that really can love and do good in difficult times.

At the very least let’s not add to the Snarky mood with sarcasm, cynicism, or criticism.  After all, if we have decided in advance that anything said or done by a certain individual is going to be awful, that is the old definition of prejudice.  I have had enough of that ugly evil dynamic in my lifetime.  Haven’t you?