I don’t read newspapers very often. (I stopped taking the Tennessean long ago because it kept getting stolen. I had it delivered to Belle Meade UMC so I could read it everyday. I was especially interested in the Sunday edition. However, someone kept stealing the newspaper that was often delivered to the front steps of the sanctuary!
One Sunday, I caught the person picking it up, and I told him it was my personal copy. After that, I just canceled my subscription.) In addition, I rarely watch the evening news–and really for the main reason I quit reading the newspaper. However, since I get the New York Times, NBC news, and local news through News Break via email and text, I still get bad news. That’s the reason I quit being a news hound. But, that doesn’t stop the bad news. It seems that the stories just get worse and worse.
Shootings, abductions, robberies, car jackings, fraud, sexual abuse–and all of the ugly things that go on in the name of politics: it’s all disturbing. Then, add to that the problems that originate in the church! I get a daily email about problems that arise in the church, and it most often centers around clergy missteps. And, I’m not shy about controversial subjects; but I hesitate even to mention climate, or recent discoveries that indicate too much social media is leading to mental issues among young people.
The reason I mention all of these things is that we are bombarded by troubling issues every day. No wonder people are on edge and express their frustration through increasingly angry and hostile displays of behavior, both in the home as well as in public.
Many of us are wondering how to handle such a harsh and divisive culture. I want to share with you a verse of scripture that I have found helpful for over 50 years. It includes the opening verses of Psalm 46. It says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present (the Hebrew reads, ‘well proved’) help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.”
One could read this and think, “Well, I don’t have to do anything. God will take care of it all.” That’s not what the scripture means. Instead, the scripture says that while these things are going on, God will bring calm to us. I hasten to add, while we gain some sort of calm, I believe that God expects us to partner with Him and help to bring peace to a troubled world. I hope you will join me as we face the challenges and work for bringing Christ to all.
Pastor Michael