Devotion: Righteous Anger
Righteous Anger
Please take the time to read Mark 3:1-6
I’ve always struggled with Bible quoters in arguments, especially when it involves isolating and condemning people or groups of people. In more recent years, if I’m feeling frisky, I’ll say something like, “yeah, but isn’t there something about a GREATEST commandment along the lines of love one another?”
I should take my own advice.
In the past few years, I’ve caught myself quickly dismissing the entirety of a human, based on a singular belief. The more I read online, the angrier I get. I avoid arguments because I know that tactic is not a persuasive tool. So I retreat to my echo chamber to stew about these “outrageous” ideas.
Doing nothing is not the answer.
In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Greg quoted a lyric by Sheridan-grown, Allie Crummy, “I have magnified what is wrong in this world, instead of glorifying the one who’ll make it right.”
A spark. I have to be more about what I’m for than worrying about what I’m against.
In his book, “Christians in the Age of Outrage” Ed Stetzer reminds us that a relationship with Christ means we have to have relationships with others. We should be building bridges, not burning them. Sunday’s sermon reminded me that I need to work on accepting each individual, even when we don’t agree on everything.
Dear God, remind me to be slow to anger. Help me to seek understanding and build relationships. Help me navigate productive conversations with those that have a different opinion. And keep me mindful of your greatest commandment to love you and love my neighbors.
Amen.
Written by Randy Hawthorne
Having a rivaled human network, Randy makes it his personal mission to connect those humans to their next big thing. Randy has decades of experience in the nonprofit industry, having served as a professional and volunteer in a variety of organizations.
He enjoys mentoring students and entrepreneurs, occasionally makes his way to a theater stage, geeks out on local history and goes on dining adventures.