Not often would I like to pretty much quote an entire article, but there was one this past week by Andrew W.K. which shows unnatural wisdom in today’s modern world. If you do click through this link, please note piece’s title includes profanity:
“Ask Andrew W.K.: My Dad Is a Right-Wing A******”
The title of this post is one of many great lines in his article:
No matter how bad someone may appear, they are truly no worse than us.
Even as Christians we can use that reminder. We all are afflicted with the same disease; the difference is that we know what the cure is and have put our lives into the hands of the Great Physician.
Yes, there are many who have bought the Devil’s lies more fully, and fairly could be categorized as evil. Some are probably even beyond hope, their choice fixed in darkness on both sides of eternity.
Only God knows who they are.
W.K.’s article deserves a full read, but this is my favorite paragraph:
So we must protect and respect each other, no matter how hard it feels. No matter how wrong someone else may seem to us, they are still human. No matter how bad someone may appear, they are truly no worse than us. Our beliefs and behavior don’t make us fundamentally better than others, no matter how satisfying it is to believe otherwise. We must be tireless in our efforts to see things from the point of view we most disagree with. We must make endless efforts to try and understand the people we least relate to. And we must at all times force ourselves to love the people we dislike the most. Not because it’s nice or because they deserve it, but because our own sanity and survival depends on it. And if we do find ourselves pushed into a corner where we must kill others in order to survive, we must fully accept that we are killing people just as fully human as ourselves, and not some evil abstract creatures.
If we allow ourselves to demonize our “opponents,” it is easy to justify anything we do to them. Maybe children today are being brought up differently than I was, but I was taught “two wrongs don’t make a right” and “the ends do not justify the means.”
Righteous anger does not justify unrighteous behavior.
And even if it does happen that those who disagree with you are truly the spawn of Satan…God’s expectation out of you does not change. Instead:
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all (Romans 12:14-18, English Standard Version).
Don’t kid yourself; generally you have full control over living peaceably with all. Don’t bait them and don’t let them bait you. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).
What would Jesus do?