The Hatfields and the McCoys
A couple of weeks ago, we watched the mini-series "The Hatfields and the McCoys." It is not easy to watch these two families, living on opposite sides of a river, as they go to war over something fairly inconsequential. But it is also fascinating to watch their hate for each other side-by-side with their avowed love for God. These are families that pray, that worship, and that seek God's blessing. In one scene the McCoys are seen coming out of the Tug Fork Church of Christ. Though that may be a bit of artistic license, still their devotion to God seems to be indisputable.
Why is it that so often that those who claim a love for God also claim that love calls them to violence and hate and angry rhetoric? We accuse and counter-accuse, each using God to justify our positions in any number of arguments. And in all that, the world sees God's people looking like the Hatfields and the McCoys. They see people whose love for God takes second place to their desire to be "right." We may not be toting our guns to church but we all too often are armed with sharp words, whispered malice, and bitter thoughts. (Of course, this being Texas, it would not surprise me to find that a few of the sisters are packing heat in those big purses!)
Can we as God's people rise above the fray and become voices of reason and kindness and gentleness? Can we have love overflowing even for those with whom we disagree? Apparently God thinks we can. So maybe a better question is "will we?"
"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you." 1 Thessalonians 3:12
Why is it that so often that those who claim a love for God also claim that love calls them to violence and hate and angry rhetoric? We accuse and counter-accuse, each using God to justify our positions in any number of arguments. And in all that, the world sees God's people looking like the Hatfields and the McCoys. They see people whose love for God takes second place to their desire to be "right." We may not be toting our guns to church but we all too often are armed with sharp words, whispered malice, and bitter thoughts. (Of course, this being Texas, it would not surprise me to find that a few of the sisters are packing heat in those big purses!)
Can we as God's people rise above the fray and become voices of reason and kindness and gentleness? Can we have love overflowing even for those with whom we disagree? Apparently God thinks we can. So maybe a better question is "will we?"
"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you." 1 Thessalonians 3:12
Comments
Post a Comment