Tuesday, June 19th, 2018

A new hotly contested political debate erupted in the past few days over the issue of separating parents from children when the family crosses the US border illegally. Many different opinions have been expressed in the media and this is the sort of topic that can easily lead to emotional arguments, thus ratcheting up the intensity of the debate. It is one thing to hold an opinion on politics and fervently support it, but it is quite another when we allow our words to spread hate towards the other side. When we feel the urge to launch attacks or even just say ugly things, we are called to remember what Paul reminded the Ephesians. He said, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” No problem was ever solved by hating the other side. Hate may win a battle, but it only yields more hate in the next. Today, rather than buy into the us vs. them mentality of political debate, seek ways to be an open hand, an honest mouth, a loving heart, and an open mind.

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” – Ephesians 4:29 ESV