Two Wrongs Are Both Wrong
“Don’t point your finger at someone else and try to pass the blame! Look, you priests, my complaint is with you!” -- Hosea 4:4
It’s his fault! No, it’s her fault! Oh, if they would just change their attitude everything would be fine! And on and on it goes.
It’s one of those situations where people just don’t like each other. And that’s okay. I suppose. Though it does seem odd in a church. But can’t we love one another without wanting to spend lots of one-on-one time with each other? And can’t we be civil and respectful without looking for offense in every word and action?
Apparently not is the answer some days. I know he can sometimes be a jerk. Honestly, I do. He says things without thinking sometimes. And sometimes he thinks of something and says it anyway, not caring who it hurts. And that’s not okay.
But it’s also not okay to verbally kick him when he’s down. And it’s not okay to show disrespect to someone just because you don’t share his views. And it’s not okay to treat people the way you think they should be treated. Why? Because God doesn’t treat you the way you should be treated either.
Why is it that we have so much trouble showing mercy to people we don’t like? It doesn’t make his actions okay. I’m not saying that. But his actions don’t justify your actions either. In fact, your actions just add fuel to a bad situation.
The saddest thing is that everyone here is a Christian. It’s just that when it hurts and it gets personal, we don’t act as though we remember that. And I get it. Really I do. Remember I’m the one who took a long walk the other, repeating Scripture to myself until I could calm down enough to deal with an infuriating situation.
Maybe that’s what we all need to do. You told me only prayer could handle this and you’re right. Except I’m not sure we’re on the same page with what that means. You’re praying for God to make this man go away. I’m praying that God will heal your heart, and his, so that we can all get along.
Because just like the rest of us, you both have good and bad in you. Unfortunately, it seems that you bring out the worst in each other. And that’s sad because you’re both good people.
So take a deep breath and pull that pointing finger back. You’re both guilty. And you’ve both been hurt. Forgiveness starts with kindness, whether you believe it’s deserved or not. God loved us first so that we could love others. All those words in the Bible apply equally to both of you. Start practicing them -- with each other.
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