1.28.26
Hey, Calvary Fremont –
Much public discourse has become dis-coarse. As I read various posts on social media, I feel like a piece of sandpaper is vigorously scrubbing my soul – it is a jarring experience. It doesn’t sand off the rough edges; it only leaves wounds and bruises. It appears that many think there is greater persuasive power in insults, scorn, and slurs than in reason. Maybe the thought is: Since I don’t have the ability to reason you out of your position, I will resort to shaming you out of your position. Whether you are on the left or on the right, or stuck somewhere in the middle – this is not an effective strategy. Your strategy of contempt and derision says more about you than those you are addressing (or undressing, as the case may be).
What would you think if I showed you a picture of wife and then spit on it? You would conclude that I don’t have much respect for my wife. This defiling act toward my wife would probably draw forth your condemnation of me and compassion for her. So – what does public dis-coarse and me spitting on my wife’s picture have to do with one another?
Genesis 1:26 says, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Men and women are created in the image of God. In many ways, men and women are pictures of God. I show you a picture of my wife – that is her image. I spit on that image and that tells you something of what I think of my wife. The men and women reading your social media post are images of God. When you spit on them, slur them, insult them, and treat them with contempt, it gives us some insight on what you think of God.
Every man and every woman are created in the image of God. Dignity and near majesty are inherent in this concept. I am to treat all with dignity and respect. All – the totalitarian Communist, the authoritarian Muslim, the anti-authoritarian Anarchist – any and all who would consider me their enemy whether religiously, politically, racially, philosophically, etc. If my wife and I are at odds over something, I have discovered that insults and slurs are not the best strategy to get her on the same page as me! If I employ contempt and derision, I don’t persuade her mind, I wound her spirit. Her reaction to me rises from her woundedness, not her reason. She has to protect herself, defend herself from me – from me who is assaulting her dignity and near majesty (in that she is created in the image of God). Public dis-coarse is born of wounds.
Those who throw sticks and stones and drop atom bombs in their social media posts are seeking to make what they consider a valid point – whether its demonizing or angelizing Donald Trump – or whatever the theme is. They seek to make a persuasive point and yet their missile of reason is shot from the cannon of contempt and derision. The reasoning and logic doesn’t enter my mind; the insults and slurs enter my spirit. What you consider to be a well-thought out and reasonable social media post doesn’t end an argument; it starts a war. The Versailles Treaty was so brutal that it wasn’t the conclusion of WW1, it was the introduction to WW2.
I am trying hard in all my communication to uphold the dignity and near majesty of those who are created in the image of God. O, I can be a bull in a china closet, but as God has opened my eyes to His image inherent in all, I am seeking to be kinder and avoid contemptuous words and a derisive spirit. I want to honor the image of God in you and not spit on it. No – I’m not adopting the “there is a spark of the divine in every person” philosophy. Even as an image of my wife is decidedly not my wife, so men and women made in the image of God are decidedly not God. History and reason and revelation have amply demonstrated this.
When you address people as enemies, they will respond as enemies. When you lob sticks and stones and drop atom bombs, you receive these in return. You don’t have to treat people the way they treat you – you really don’t. You can rise above this and honor and respect the image as you honor and respect God. No, the image of my wife is decidedly not my wife – I don’t hug it and kiss it. But it is a glorious reminder. Every man and every woman is a glorious reminder of the God in whose image they are made. If you choose to comment on this post – be kind. For I, too, am created in the image of God.
Stay healthy and be blessed and follow Jesus – Pastor Tim
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