Gongs and Cymbals

So many noisy gongs. So many clanging cymbals.

If you’re like me, you’ve been inundated by social media posts—both from the left and from the right—throughout this latest political cycle. Passionate, intelligent, God-fearing people who convincingly argue against whatever straw-man point of view they oppose. People who I generally know to be good-hearted and upstanding and rational. People who are Christians.

But while their posts appear earnest and thoughtful, one thing continues to bear out. The posts are often accusatory, argumentative, devisive, even mean-spirited. On both sides of the political spectrum. And I think I can speak for some of the rest of us when I say this: We’re tired of it.

For all my social media friends out there, I want to gently but firmly remind you of one truth. If you are a Christ-follower, your ultimate motive in everything you do should be love. If you are not posting or arguing with the ultimate intent to love those who you are arguing against, then you’re doing it wrong.

You’re just banging a gong. You’re just clanging a cymbal.

Please. You can certainly post your opinions, quote your statistics, cite your sources, eloquently argue your point. But please, make sure that your ultimate motivation is love. In your words, in your attitude, and in your heart. And if you can’t, then please don’t.

Thanks for listening.

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV

[Note: This is the first time I’ve gone off script and added a non-arts related post to this blog. It will also be my last.]