The political climate continues to be crazy and while fraternal correction IS a good thing, it is sometimes hard to know when it is appropriate and how to best deliver it.
In these courageous conversations I want to show humility, openness to learning and dialogue, and charity while also wanting to work for justice where it is hard. Justice is hard when the decision on what is just is not agreed upon.
Recently we had another killing, this time of a human being who of course is precious to God (as are all humans) but who also spoke to dehumanize others. I don’t mean to say politics here, I mean to say he clearly articulated that some people are better than others and gave a voice to the sins of racism and sexism.
Murder is never the right answer. But what I see is the whitewashing of someone’s hateful ideas, and instead portraying him as a saint. This risks leading the flock astray. Better a millstone territory.
My first thought though is to be careful and acknowledge my own faults. I don’t want to be the hypocrite here and recognize my “logs” :
“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” (Luke 6:42)
But Jesus in the same passage has also told us that we can reach a point of not being a hypocrite but instead being like Him…”A disciple is not above his teacher, but every one when he is fully taught will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40)
I am grateful to have been given eyes to see and been the subject of fraternal correction so that I could grow. I pray that I will continue to be refined. And I pray that my Christian brothers and sisters will do so as well so they too will be recognized as a good and faithful servant and not one whom the Master does not recognize.