Can we end the debate?

Someone call it. End of debate. Back and forth over. Stop arguing.

I’ve been watching my facebook feed and my twitter and instagram blow up with recent posts about a number of hot topics.

The “right and wrong” debates of today.

I have to say, in all honesty, sometimes… I want to hide it all. The blogs, comments, the next best words written on the topic, posts on all sides of the debate. I don’t want to read another post being highly shared around the web.

Yet… I’m a blogger. I write my thoughts just as they do.

I love when a blogger or a news station or a publishing company stands up publicly for what is right.

We MUST stand up for what is right.

In fact, I’ve blogged a few hot topics myself… not often. But when something greatly effects myself or our girls, when something comes up that I am deeply passionate about, I tend to sense the words of my heart needing to be written. Many times, writing is how I process thoughts, feelings and the inner workings of my brain.

But there comes a point when the debate becomes too much, when the discussion looses its value and purpose.

Why?

Because the actual debate, the back and forth, the finger pointing and the judgements, the shaming and the continual social media frenzy does not always flatter our Lord nor does it bring glory to His name. Most times, it does’t point people to Him or convince anyone to change their opinion or decision.

If I get overwhelmed and even tired of seeing it continually debated in my news feeds, imagine how those who don’t know Jesus feel?

Imagine what they think?

Have they hidden all your shares and cringe when they see your next picture or your next news article or blog post come across their feed? In the days of so much misinformation, is it beneficial to post the next viral thing?

A verse that keeps coming to mind is Philippians 2:12 and it ends saying, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

The problem is that we are working out our salvations so publicly that I’m not sure it is always helpful or loving or beneficial. I’m not sure the truth is always being shared in love. I’m not sure the “fear and trembling” part is being remembered.

Are we stuck pointing to all the “right and wrongs” of the world and then, forgetting that sharing our life, our love for God and our love for His word is what will drive people to Jesus?

Have we forgotten that the proof of how we live will speak louder than a simple blog post share?

That seeing joy and love and patience and peace and comfort and giving and simply living out our convictions could say so much more than sharing our political party’s newest ad campaign?

I’m not saying those things are wrong – the campaigns and the blog posts. There is power in words and this is how we learn what is happening in our world.

I am saying that continuing the next best debate on vaccines or alcohol or the flag or reading choices or music selections or politics or theology might not be as beneficial in your representation of Christ as you think it is.

I’m saying that continuously pushing one side against another will ultimately bring about the division you are trying so hard to avoid. It perpetuates the feelings of anger rather than showing our love for one another.

Casting Crowns says,

“When we love, we earn the right to speak the truth
When we speak truth, we show the world we truly love
I’m not pointing my finger, I’m holding out my hand
I lay it all on the line now to see God save my friend
Let my life and my words be the proof
I’m gonna love you with the truth”

The truth is that the debate needs to end.

The constant back and forth, the finger pointing, the media frenzy must slow down.

There are bigger things at stake.

The very salvation of your loved ones, your friends, your children and your coworkers hangs in the balance.

Heaven, eternity and the Great Commission. End of debate.

You must prayerfully balance your posts, knowing they are being weighed every single time someone reads your facebook or twitter or instagram.

Do they see you living a life they want and admire? Do they want to know where your love comes from or why you live the way you do? Do they wonder about your joy and your peace or do they click the hide button because you are always posting the next debate?

The truth is that not only does the debate need to end, we need to make sure that everything we do points to Jesus.

Why?

Because one day, you and I, our children, our friends, our families… we will ALL stand before Jesus.

We will ALL bow our knee to Him. We will answer for our lives, our words and our thoughts. We will answer for missed opportunities and wasted time. We will be asked about hidden talents and ignored calls.

We must point people to Jesus, end of debate.

We must live a life that proclaims His goodness, His protection, His power, His faithfulness, His joy and His standard.

His banner should be lifted high… not a hot topic, policy or new debate.

His Word should get the attention. Our obedience to His Word should shine bright.

Oh, He uses the blog posts and the other social media outlets. He speaks to writers and bloggers and news people. He needs business people to stand up for His name in public ways. In fact, speaking the truth is critically important.

But the overall, big debate must slow. The flood of hot topics must fade.

Or the flood of posts will over shine Jesus and we will point people to the flood rather than the hope on the other side of the storm.

The needs of this world are great. There is an immense number of people yet to hear the simple gospel that Jesus loves them.

I read Numbers 16 for my devotions today. The nation of Israel was facing a punishing plague. They had sinned greatly against God. And this is what Moses and Aaron did.

“Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started.” So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.”

Aaron ran into the midst, not preaching the sins of the people or debating the right and wrong of their faults. He ran in, stood between the living and the dead, and pointed to God. He proclaimed forgiveness and stood for the truth, the hope, and the realness of a God who loves them.

And the plague stopped. End of debate.

Let us run into the midst and point to Jesus. 

Not to the debates. Only to Jesus.

How are you seeing the debates, current events, flood of misinformation and public arguments?

What are some ways you can stand in the midst and point people to Jesus?

How can we end the debate?

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