Wagging in a growling culture

I’m a dog lover, and we’re definitely a dog family (our pups are in family pictures along with our kids and grandkids).

Most dogs have no problem with me, and vice versa. But occasionally there’s one who lets out that low warning growl: I give that one a wide berth.

It’s easy to encounter the people equivalent of that menacing dog. Just discuss politics, or the pandemic, or vaccines, and you’ll see what I mean.

Even (and especially) Christians are being drawn into fights— in person and on social media— about these topics and almost anything else. Ed Stetzer, of Wheaton College and the Billy Graham Institute, nails the spirit of our age in his book Christians in the Age of Outrage (Tyndale). Stetzer challenges followers of Jesus to “move from contributing to the age of outrage to effectively engaging it with the gospel”.

Followers of Jesus have the singular honor of living out the truth that faith in Jesus changes us from the inside out. Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, took the penalty for our sin on Himself when He died on the cross. His resurrection is proof that our debt has been paid! Through faith in Jesus, we are made right with God and can live a new life unfettered from sin’s enslavement. Christians are meant to be living proof of Jesus’ resurrection and transforming power!

The apostle Paul exemplified such behavior. He didn’t have to imagine conspiracies: he faced real ones! His former colleagues on the Sanhedrin hatched plot after plot to have him transported, then ambush and kill him en route. (Read about these in Acts 21-26.)

In response to these threats, Paul chose to appear before Caesar, his right as a Roman citizen. He endured imprisonment not only in Israel but in Rome. He lived 2 years chained to a Roman guard. Paul’s adversaries and sufferings were real; outrage over the injustices he endured could have consumed him.

Instead, these are his words for us: “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.” (Philippians 4:4-5 NLT)

Rather than being furious, frustrated, or fearful, Paul urges us to let Jesus give us joy that can be found nowhere else. Jesus will return, and people need to know Him!

Rather than being consumed with anxiety, Paul tells us in the rest of the passage to pray about our concerns: God will answer with His inexplicable peace. (vv 6-7)

What we think about sets the tone and direction for our lives. “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (v 8)

In the final analysis, our eternal destinies are not affected one iota by our stances on politics, vaccines, or masks. Let’s keep our focus on the transforming life and message of Jesus, and we will be different from the enraged culture around us. We will find ourselves wagging more and growling less.

Don Baumann is retired outreach pastor from Hilltop Community Church