Turn Down The Volume
01/23/2022
Maybe you’ve been there. Taking a drive to a place for the first time. Looking around for the landmarks that you were given to make sure you are on the right track. You are finding it really hard to concentrate. What’s the problem? SOUND. Whatever music or conversation that is blasting from your speakers is causing a lack of focus. Turns out… sometimes in order for us to focus our vision… we need to turn the volume down.
When it comes to embracing a oneness culture, and also when it comes to approaching difficult topics from a biblical perspective, we need to be aware of the noise around us and how it can disorient our ability to to see clearly the vision Jesus has for our lives and His Church.
When it comes to the noise of the cultures of the world… The louder it gets, the more people listen.
It also seems like the the loudest voices, or at least the voices that reach the most ears, are the ones that are the most outraged.
Anger (rage) has a way of silencing everything. If there is a division, anger does not reconcile, it restricts our ability to come together. It’s no wonder why rage is so often used in culture to vilify people or destroy understanding.
Skye Jethani writes, “In some Christian communities, particularly online, anger is so ubiquitous (all-around) one might suspect it is a fruit of the Spirit. Why has it found such acceptance among us when Jesus warned so clearly of anger’s toxicity to our soul?” If we are to be a witness for Jesus, and experience the fruit of the Spirit, The Church cannot embrace this “age of outrage”.
When it comes to this long road of obedience, and when it comes to enjoying the blessings of a church that is united in Jesus, we have to keep our cool. Unpacking the differences between what we think we know vs what the Bible teaches us is a long, and at times difficult, journey. It only becomes harder if we continue to let voices of division, impatience, and rage flood our senses.
So maybe as we reflect on this past series, and look forward to discussing some challenging topics from a biblical perspective, we should spend this week thinking over the biblical principle on this “outrage” culture from James, bother of Jesus.
“You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” James 1:19-20
So, let’s slow down… turn down the volume… and try to see ourselves, each other, and the Word of God, with clarity.
Closing Prayer
May the bond of peace of Jesus Christ go with us,
as we seek to love God as one.
May He guide us in humility, gentleness,
and patience as we love people as we have been loved. May the compassion of Jesus Christ be in us
as we serve the world in word and deed.
May He bring us together again,
rejoicing as His children as we live in Real Life with Christ.