Dear Family and Friends,

I think many of us would agree that we live in extremely dysfunctional times. Oxford defines dysfunctional as deviating from the norms of social behavior in a way regarded as bad. The vitriol, cruel and bitter criticism being spewed out by so many is so…, it’s beyond words. 

The truth is there are opposing “sides” on just about every matter that matters. And unfortunately, many feel entitled and empowered to criticize all those on the other side. 

Have you ever had to listen to someone tell you how he or she felt on a hot issue and you totally felt the opposite way? I did. And it took all my inner strength to manage a smile and not react, verbally and physically. 

Quite honestly, I can barely remember the last time everyone in our country agreed with each other. It was shortly after 9/11 that we, and the rest of the world, all agreed on a common enemy. But even that period of peace didn’t last for long. 

So what happened to our society? Why can’t we all get along? 

While there are many reasons as to how we got here, today we will focus on a major reason for the great divide amongst us.

Are you feeling bombarded with information? Are you struggling to understand all the facts out there, much of which conflict? Have you ever asked yourself, how do I sift through the morass, and which side do I choose? 

Let’s start by remembering that there is a spiritual battle taking place for our souls. If 1 Corinthians 14:33 ESV says, “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace,” would you agree that satan lurks behind all the confusion that divides us? 1 Peter 5:8 ESV warns, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

So, if one side of an issue comes from the enemy, how then do we discern which side is the truth? Does the Bible offer us a hint of how to do that? Yes!

Jesus had several “challenging” interchanges with the Jewish leaders. Their relationship was as dysfunctional as our relationships are today. Let’s look at a few to refresh our memories.

The one about healing on the Sabbath: “And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him.” Mark 3:2 ESV

The one about the parable of the tenants: “The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.” Luke 20:19-20 ESV

The one about paying taxes to Caesar: “And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk.” Mark 12:13 ESV

The one about woe on the Pharisees: “As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.” Luke 11:53-54 ESV

The one about the woman caught in adultery: “The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him.” John 8:3-6 ESV

Look closely at the hearts of the Pharisees. The true motive of these experts in the law who spent years teaching and debating the laws of Moses, was not to debate Jesus, but to attack and discredit Him. Unwilling to accept Jesus for who He was, they channeled their energy into bringing Him down.

Knowing this, how do we go about discerning the truth? 

Perhaps a good place to start is by asking: are there really two sides?

Or is this similar to what the Pharisees did to Jesus?

Are both sides offering true alternatives or is one of the sides simply intent on discrediting the other?

Casting stones is not a side nor a solution. It’s just vitriol. And because its motive is to create confusion and not peace, it’s not the truth.  

Second, and most importantly, we need to ask ourselves what is the fruit, the outcome, of each side? Is the fruit good?

Does it lead us to love or joy or peace or patience or kindness or goodness or faithfulness or gentleness or self-control, or maybe all of the above? 

In love always,