06-04-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
June 4, 2024
Though I am not one to talk much about the devil or demons, I do believe in what the Apostle Paul called the Powers and Principalities, a sort of vague description of entities that seek to undermine the way of love. Just today, on social media, I saw three posts that were all intended to be digs at something that is very important to me. The approach was to suggest that because I am passionate about one thing, I cannot be in favor of the other thing. Actually, in two cases, I was supportive of the thing they were suggesting I would not. There are Powers and Principalities in this world that are seeking to undermine the way of love, and one of the common ways is to create false dichotomies. If you are in favor of X, then you must hate Y. Without thinking, those who are passionate about Y suddenly believe they must hate X. Often, these false dichotomies seek out those who live their lives with a scarcity mindset. If I want X, then you can’t have Y. The Powers and Principalities often don’t care about X or Y, but they want to create a world where the X group and the Y group are bringing so much negative energy and vitriol toward each other that the Powers and Principalities can do whatever they please. When love is undermined, things like distrust, loathing, a negative mindset, scapegoating, buying into a worldview that is us vs. them, and a total lack of empathy become the norm. Next time someone plays the strict dichotomy card, pause long enough to ask yourself, “Do I necessarily have to hate X to be in favor of Y?”

Provide me a clear mind, O Lord, and a capacity to think instead of react. And ultimately, as Jesus suggested, I want to seek the abundant life, where simply being passionate about one thing does not mean there is no passion for something else. Amen.