Today you look at the news or social media and the majority of things you see are about how divided we are as a country and a world. We are divided into so many different groups based on so many different things. We are broken into groups based on race, religion, gender, ethnicity, political affiliation, the region we live in, and whatever else you can think of. This divisiveness has led to so many having an Us vs. Them mentality in everything. It is sad to me to see so much hatred, animosity and disrespect given to each other because of the differences among us. It is a sad reality of the time we currently live in.

While yes we are different based on a number of things, we are more alike with the things that truly matter. When we get right down to it we are all flesh and blood human beings who are only on this earth for a limited amount of time. You don’t have to sit back and have the differences among us dictate how you are going to treat others. You can be more of who God truly wants you to be but you have to take a stand. You have to stop looking at others through the superficial view that as humans we’ve put on each other. As it says in 2 Corinthians 5:16 (NLT), “So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time, we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!”

I was taught from a young age to try and judge everyone fairly. To take the attitude that we are all children of God. My parents taught each of us to treat everyone with respect regardless of skin color, gender, ethnicity, etc. For the most part I think I was able to follow what I was taught but even then there were times when I fell for the stereotypes and labels placed on others. There were times I treated people differently simply based on the color of their skin, their gender, their ethnicity, etc. I let the differences impact my actions. I believe we all have done that at some point in our lives.

My time in the military allowed me to live in different parts of the country and different parts of the world. It allowed me to work with people of all types of backgrounds. It was a valuable time in my growth of understanding others as I lived and work with so many different people. At the end of the day what I found out is when the labels and stereotypes are stripped off, we are basically all the same. I also found out that together we can accomplish great things. Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NLT) says, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.”

So how do we keep the right view of one another in a time when our differences are being highlighted daily? Very simply, we have to lean on God’s word and His direction for how we are to treat each other. John 15:12 (NLT) tells us, “This is my commandment. Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” And we have Ephesians 4:32 (NLT) which directs us, “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” If we say we are followers of Christ, then we are called to love, forgive and genuinely care for one another, regardless of the differences being highlighted today.

Even when we have someone judging and treating us unfairly because of the differences, we are still called to love them. Is that going to be easy? Absolutely not, but we are called to treat them with love and respect anyway. Wow, are you serious? Yes I am! We have to remember what Luke 6:31 tells us, “Do to others as you would like them to do to you.” This is a lesson we’ve been taught from a young age and it still applies to us as adults. It’s even harder to do as adults when we are fed so many negative things and we no longer have the naivete of a child.

Each of us can make a difference, I truly believe that. The daily interactions we have with others helps shape their view of the world. Imagine how different the world would be if we all showed love and respect to those we meet on a daily basis. Imagine how someone’s view of the world could change based off a positive interaction they had with you. The world would be a much different and better place. A place where we wouldn’t have to hear and see daily how different we all are. We wouldn’t be told that because of those differences there is no way we can ever get along.

We have to each take this on as a personal responsibility because it’s what we have to do as children of God. Don’t get discouraged, don’t believe everything being fed to you, keep trying and keep encouraging each other without focusing on the differences. We need each other, never forget that!

Truth in Love! ~ Chuck