Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace

Last week, I posted a couple of paragraphs on Facebook from the US Treasury Department's website about the Debt Limit and said that it was time for Congress to get its act together. This was merely an expression of my frustration with Congress; it wasn't intended to be a partisan statement. Nevertheless, my post provoked angry comments from a casual friend who clearly has a lot of hostility for President Obama. I told the conservative friend that if he hates President Obama, it doesn't matter what I say, he will blame Obama for our economic problems. Yet it does matter what I say because at the end of the day, there is something far more important than the current Debt Limit. 

Words are important. As the lyrics of Hawk Nelson's song Words says, words can build us up or bring us down, start a fire in our hearts or put it out. Too often, people use negative words to blame, slander, denigrate and defame one another. Lies and inflammatory language are often used in politics to create discord and fear. If we care about the truth, we have to use discernment. We should seek to understand the intentions of those who speak badly about others.  And if the negative talk brings us down and changes who we are, then we should turn it off.

Our words not only affect the people who hear or read them, they also reflect what is in our hearts. Are we fair? Are we honest? Do we treat people with dignity and respect? 

Luke 6:45 (New International Version) The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

When I read the comments made by my conservative friend, his words told me a lot about the condition of his heart.

He plans to continue paying welfare, food stamps and illegal aliens but cut of SS, Medicare, etc. He will cut off those who have paid the taxes and keep giving it to those who haven't paid and won't compromise at all. It's time to look at the facts and quit listening to lies he and the media keep dishing out. This is all his fault and history will show it.

I read those words and was struck by the resentment my friend feels towards the President and towards those who receive financial assistance from the government. Even my non-believing friends understand the value of doing unto others as you would have done to you. They understand that when you give, you receive. Yes, we should do what we can to stop the cycle of poverty. Yes, we should encourage self-sufficiency. Yes, we should strengthen families to reduce the poverty rates in this country. The poor are not nameless, faceless people, they are individual human beings with individual stories.  

All too often, words are used to mislead people. One of the things that most frustrates me is that anyone can claim to be a Christian yet the world sees the truth. When your words and actions are inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus Christ, you corrupt the image of Christianity and turn people away from Christ. If you claim to follow Jesus Christ, then stop walking in darkness. Practice the truth.  

1 John 1:5-6 (English Standard Version) This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  

I pray that my conservative friend will look to God for the truth instead of seeking salvation from a political party or leader. As for me, I pray that the Lord will make me an instrument of his peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.

Saint Francis Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is error, the truth;

Where there is doubt, the faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled, as to console;

To be understood, as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.