by Doy Moyer<\/p>\n
There are people I genuinely like but with whom I have strong disagreements. Some are on opposite theological and political isles, yet I feel kindly disposed toward them. I cannot explain this. It’s just something that you either get or don’t. I suspect that this is true of most people. We have those in our circles, social media included, that we like even while we dislike what they stand for. On the flip side, there are those whom we might not feel so kindly disposed toward even though we agree on most issues. There are people who, as we say, rub us the wrong way, and so we struggle a bit to be kind. Again, I don’t know how to explain that, but it reflects how we feel.<\/p>\n
Feelings are often inexplicable, and we mustn’t let those feelings cloud the truth, especially when it comes to people we like. We must also not let negative feelings keep us from acting properly toward those we might not feel so good about. Feelings do not determine truth. They do not excuse us from teaching what is right because we don’t want to offend those whom we like. Nor do feelings serve as an excuse to treat people poorly.<\/p>\n
While feelings are a God-given part of who we are, they must be tempered by truth and the determination to act properly. We choose to show compassion. We choose to be kind. We choose to be patient, to bear with each other, and to forgive. We choose to love. Hear, then, what Paul wrote to the Colossian Christians:<\/p>\n
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful<\/em>” (Colossians 3:12-15, ESV).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The challenge of bringing our feelings in line with what we ought to be doing is difficult, but by doing what is right consistently and willingly, we may find that our feelings follow suit. It is difficult to continue disliking people toward whom we are showing compassion and forgiveness. When we act with kindness and mercy, even toward those on opposite sides of issues, we will probably begin to like them more, which allows us to build relationships that lead to better communication and influence. If we already like them, perhaps further communication can lead to better understanding and building bridges across divisive lines. One thing is sure: we can’t achieve peace and unity when we don’t try or when we refuse to talk.<\/p>\n
“Let love be genuine<\/em>,” Paul wrote (Romans 12:9). Then, in the next chapter, “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,’ and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law<\/em>” (Romans 12:8-10).<\/p>\n
“Love your neighbor,<\/em>” the second greatest command, comes out of Leviticus 19. In that context, Israel is told how this love is shown: leave gleaning from the harvest “for the poor and for the sojourner<\/em>” (Leviticus 19:10); don’t steal, deal falsely or lie (Leviticus 19:11-12); don’t oppress or rob others, don’t curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind (Leviticus 19:13-14); do no injustices in court, don’t be “partial to the poor or defer to the great<\/em>,” but judge righteously (Leviticus 19:15); don’t slander or stand by when your neighbor’s life is at stake (Leviticus 19:16); reprove your neighbor as needed, but don’t take vengeance or bear a grudge, “but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD<\/em>” (Leviticus 19:17-18).<\/p>\n
These actions are associated with love, and they all have to do with how we would treat others, including those against whom we might be tempted to keep grudges. How do we proceed? We do what Jesus taught: “In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets<\/em>” (Matthew 7:12, NET). This “Golden Rule” keeps us in check because we know how much we dislike being mistreated, slandered, misjudged, and unforgiven. If we want grace, we need to show grace. “Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom. For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment<\/em>” (James 2:12-13, NET).<\/p>\n
Our interactions can be blessings or failures. As much as it depends on us, we must seek peace with all (Romans 12:18). That peace cannot be at the expense of truth, but this is not an either\/or proposition. Seek peace and teach truth. This is God’s way.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Doy Moyer There are people I genuinely like but with whom I have strong disagreements. Some are on opposite theological and political isles, yet I feel kindly disposed toward them. I cannot explain this. It’s just something that you either get or don’t. I suspect that this is true of most people. We have…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[546,454,441],"class_list":["post-70945","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-feelings","tag-peace","tag-truth"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12972,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/its-not-how-you-feel\/","url_meta":{"origin":70945,"position":0},"title":"It’s Not How You Feel","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 13, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"by Aubrey Belue Does it \"feel good?\" Does it feel \"right?\" If so, today's culture says, \"go for it!\" Thus, we make \"right\" what our feelings say it is, rather than what it really is. Somehow, we have reached the point in contemporary reasoning that most say that one can\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":42981,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/my-mother-wont-let-me-change-churches\/","url_meta":{"origin":70945,"position":1},"title":"My mother won’t let me change churches","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 16, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am 16 years old and I don't want to attend the same church as my family does. For a long time, I've wanted to change churches for my own personal reasons, but after going to this camp, I feel like God wants me to go to this certain\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":48017,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/courtesy\/","url_meta":{"origin":70945,"position":2},"title":"Courtesy","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"by Morris D. Norman Whatever happened to old-fashioned courtesy? Oh, it's still around, but it is becoming rarer and rarer, even among those who call themselves the children of God. The English word means, \"courtly politeness, graceful and considerate behavior toward others.\" Refined people are courteous. They have respect for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":47649,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/just-telling-what-i-feel\/","url_meta":{"origin":70945,"position":3},"title":"Just Telling What I Feel","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 27, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer That our culture has been trained to act more on feelings than objective truth and reality is evident in so many ways that it hardly needs proving. The outbursts of anger, the murders, the sexual abuses, the lack of civility, the completely irrational denials of reality, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24197,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-all-lying-bad\/","url_meta":{"origin":70945,"position":4},"title":"Is all lying bad?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 7, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: This question is about lying. Is lying in all views, such as white lies or small lies, a sin? Is there such a thing as using a lie to help someone? I can't think of a good example now, but I do hope you know what I mean. There\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":54358,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-difference-between-truth-and-lies\/","url_meta":{"origin":70945,"position":5},"title":"The Difference Between Truth and Lies","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: John 18:33-38 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Truth is critical \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Truth brings stability to a nation - Proverbs 29:14 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Truth makes us free - John 8:32 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jesus is the way and the truth - John 14:6 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0D.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jesus\u2019 words, which are truth, judges us - John 12:48 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0E.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0What distinguishes truth\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70945","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70945"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70945\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70945"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70945"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}