Ground Cloud

And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. ⏤ Heb. 12:1b-2

The fog of suffering and injustice is disconcerting. It's confusing and disorienting. We hear sounds we can't place: accusation, condemnation, ridicule, disaffiliation, dehumanization. But Evil is a ground cloud. God invites us to lift our eyes, look up, and set our focus on Jesus in whom we've placed our trust.

Interpreting Dreams

In this season of unrest, it's helpful to see conflict as a clash of dreams. Mediators and negotiators must be skillful at interpreting dreams in order to find compromise.

The Church's role is a bit different. Our unique contribution is to interpret and introduce God's dream. How can we know God's dream? We study Jesus. Jesus is the clearest image of God we have ever been given. His dream for every situation will include words like 'love', 'dignity', 'forgiveness', 'self-denial', and 'peace-making'.

Once we discern God's dream for a situation, we can look for ways to introduce it. God's will in God's way. That's life with God together for the world.

Every problem in the world

Dean Sherman has said that “Every problem in the world is a relationship problem”. This statement is probably hyperbolic, but it’s more impactful than saying something like: “93% of problems in the world are relationship problems”.

Here’s another statement that might be hyperbolic, but generally true: “The banana peel of every relationship problem is dehumanization”. Relational tensions and stresses are a normal part of human life. But tensions and stresses can quickly make a turn toward abuse. And we have been created in such a way that it’s difficult to abuse another person unless we first diminish them in our minds—make them just a little ‘less than’.

Whatever one believes about violence, it’s made bearable by labeling the Enemy—viewing them as animals rather than as people with hopes and dreams; people with parents, siblings, children, and friends; people with a generational past and a generational future.

Whatever one believes about abortion, its consequences seem less agonizing when a baby is referred to as a ‘blob of tissue’.

The crimes of gossip, rejection, bullying, slander, fraud, trafficking, and rape are easier to commit when we first believe “those people are just ____________”.

The same can be said about how we treat immigrants, refugees, people of other ethnicities and races, the poor, the ‘lost’, former spouses and friends, physically or mentally disabled, the elderly, generational groups, political groups, prisoners, and so on.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility consider one another better than yourselves.” (Phil. 2:3) Jesus himself said, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. (Matt. 22:39)

The Way of Jesus re-humanizes all people. When the Church follows him, we bring good to the world and show God’s glory. Relationships are hard but the weapons of Kingdom warfare are mighty. (2 Cor. 10:3-5)