Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. – Colossians 3:12-13

There has been something on my mind lately but it is hard to articulate. Of course that doesn’t do us any good if I am supposed to be a writer, so here goes anyway.

I got to where I am as a “Christian Thinker” (author, teacher, columnist, commentator) mostly by listening, paying attention, keeping my mouth shut, thinking things through. I haven’t been so great at the keeping my mouth shut part for a number of years but I still do a significant amount of listening.

What I hear is frankly disturbing. A lot of people have a lot of ideas and opinions that make a lot of sense and are worth airing. But – and this is increasingly problematic – they express them with such hostility and distain for other people that they are seldom actually heard.

Seriously, friends. If you have a thought about something or some state of affairs that you really believe in, it is not going to gain a lot of traction unless you show a little respect for the people you’re trying to communicate with.

When we come out with guns blazing all anyone wants to do is to cover their ears and walk away. That or shoot you down. So nobody is going to learn anything unless, first, we listen thoughtfully and then present our point of view with some finesse… and kindness… and thoughtfulness… and humility.

Ah, there’s the key word. Humility.

Many people I agree with and who may have solid arguments for their point of view lose credibility because they are so unreasonable and angry and rude and aggressive.

If we want to move the needle we need to talk with people outside of our own echo-chamber and we can’t do that if we are shouting….

Tell the world what you are for!

I may be dead set against the policies, the rhetoric and the morality of certain politicians. But the best way to effectively counter the damage they are doing is to point people to the positive alternatives, to advocate for the teachings of Jesus, and to highlight the authentic story of what it means to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

It does little good to constantly rant about what we are against. What motivates and inspires people is what we are for.

I am for practical expressions of the love of Jesus. I am for compassion, and mercy, and grace, and light, and justice, and humility, and kindness, and generosity.

I am for Jesus. I am for humankind. I am for America. If we all practice the faith that serves those who are – as Jesus puts it – “the least among us” then this country will be Great Beyond Imagination.

Peace (and humility) – for all – DEREK

I am for practical expressions of the love of Jesus. I am for compassion, and mercy, and grace, and light, and justice, and humility, and kindness, and generosity. I am for Jesus. I am for humankind. I am for America. If we all practice the faith that serves those who are – as Jesus puts it – “the least among us” then this country will be Great Beyond Imagination.