Hamilton came out a few weeks ago on Disney plus and I have to tell you, it became a fast favorite of mine. The lyrics weren’t just fast; they were historical, catchy, and brilliantly written. Great job Mr. LMM. Great job.
For those of you that haven’t seen it, it follows the story of one of our founding father’s Alexander Hamilton and follows his not-so-perfect life. Coming to America as an orphan, he finds himself in the very birth pains of our country. In his years at university he meets his future nemesis, Aaron Burr, who is painted in the musical as one who doesn’t outwardly say what is he against— or for. Claiming that if one shoots his mouth off, they will end up dead.
I live in Ohio. Medical masks are officially required to be worn in public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our local mayor in town helped lead the protest for Black Lives Matter. My headline ticker is filled with COVID-19 stats, shootings, protests, women’s rights, and editorials about everything in between. And then I can go on Facebook and other social media sites and see what just about every one of my friends thinks about such things. Sweet photos of loved one’s kiddos or puppies is a thing of the past, now being quickly replaced by Karen on top of Karen shaming others for wearing a mask or for not wearing one. For being silent on the black lives matter movement. I could go on and on, but like I said, just jump on social media for five seconds and you’ll be overwhelmed by every opinion because I know it’s not just me.
Recently my husband and I were reading the introduction to a book in the Bible called Colossians. We like to read the introduction to these books so it sets the context of the letter and we can better understand the origin, purpose, and background better. Much like Anne Frank’s diary is more influential and impactful if you know the events in which it was written in.Browse our partner-sponsored Glasses, with a variety of options to suit every taste and budget, available to buy online
The introduction to Colossians shared about this church’s apparent division being a very vague thing. It was never actually named but it’s obvious that it’s there. And there’s a reason for it: for what is dividing these people isn’t completely clear because the author of the letter never spent much time talking about it, or at least what he Paul personally thought about it. Paul does indeed call it out, but doesn’t spend much time in sharing an opinion about the issue or defending which one was right and which one was wrong, because he chooses to do something else.
“When Paul hears of the spreading influence of this teaching that devalues Christ and fails to appreciate the new identity of believers in Christ, he writes this letter of warning and encouragement. He does not minimize the threat presented by the demonic powers but emphasizes the supremacy of Christ over all powers.“
ESV Study Bible; Crossway Bibles, page 2290
If I am being honest, I have been struggling with the idea of writing in this blog during 2020. Not because I don’t have all the opinions in the world, because I totally do, but because none of them honestly matter. And that’s hard to admit.
So whether I am for or against abortion, for or against medical masks, for or against women’s rights, chanting loudly or remaining silent on the issue of racism, actually pales in comparison to the cross. If I shout right next to my sisters in a protest, but I’m screaming how their lives matter but not about how God views all humans it just adds to the noise. If I am standing up for my brother in the battle of disability-ism and shouting a counter opinion and not God’s truth, then it’s meaningless.
Please hear that I am not saying these opinions are wrong. Black lives do matter. We should stand up for lives in and out of the womb. But if we’re fighting with just another opinion, we’re losing the battle.
What would happen if we actually stood up for God? Shared HIS truth? What if we talked more about God’s goodness, love, PATIENCE, wisdom, design for marriage, grace, wrath… then we talk about our own opinions? Maybe we should care more about sharing the good news of the cross than we do about whether someone wears a mask or not.
Check your own heart. Check your own Facebook feed. Rewind all pervious conversations. Are they more about what you think about an issue or what you know to be true about the creator of universe and what he did for you? Do people know you’re more anti-vaccines than they do about what Jesus has done on the cross for you (and them too?)?
This matters. Don’t get consumed with fighting the wrong battle. God needs you to speak out his truth to this world, and it’s not going to be done any other way than truly speaking about Him.
