Rhetoric Bombs Away!

Have you ever seen 3rd graders argue?  At some point it will get reduced to the ridiculous.  It may go something like this:  "That's my ball".  "No it's not", is the reply.  "Yes it is, it's mine, give it back" flies back at the ball holder.  "Go get your own ball", the possessor retorts.  Frustrated the response is, "It's mine, it's red, and it has my name on it."  The ball holder yells back, "Prove it".  Red faced the ball pursuer yells, "it's written right there stupid".  Then the reply, "No, you're stupid".  "No you are, if you could read you can see my name written right there!".  In defiance comes, "Your fat, and I don't like you."  "I'm going to tell my mom if you don't give it back".  In sarcasm the mocking comes "Oh go ahead little baby, go tell your mommy, you big baby, go crying home, wah wah wah."  Screaming the response flies at full volume, "Give me my ball before I punch in your big fat mouth!"  "Who cares, here's your stupid ball, I never wanted it anyway." as the ball gets thrown as far away as possible from it's owner in spite.  

Silly as these playground moments tend to be, they appear to be more common these days among the adult population.  It seems people get quite brave on social media these days, and the rhetoric is escalating.  Unfortunately, people don't seem to be able to discuss topics without a verbal assault.  Especially if one should disagree.  If you should take a different view on "any" said topic...watch out...cause the rhetoric bombs will come a flyin!  Instead of discussing our differing views and understanding why we may see things differently...we call names...you're stupid...you're uneducated...you believe in fairy tales...you hate women...you hate (insert the race of your choice)...you hate gay people...you are ignorant etc...  The assault begins.  Unfortunately, for many, the pursuit of truth and understanding ends at the bombed out walls of rhetoric.  No one dares venture further lest they be assaulted further.  Sadly, the ability to truly understand differing viewpoints has been diminished.  Sadly, true tolerance of various opinions is diminished in the assaults.  Sadly, the ability for people to journey towards truth alongside each other, even when we may disagree sometimes, gets washed away in the blood bath of rhetoric.  We have become a very polarized people.  Unfortunately, social media has made people braver...and more shallow in their understanding of any number of issues.  Depth comes from probing deeply into the various views on a topic, respectfully learning "why" their may be a difference of opinion.  Sometimes it is a misunderstanding.  Sometimes it is the "worldview" one starts from and the assumptions that go along with it.  Other times, there are valid disagreements, and we may choose to "agree to disagree".  Is that possible anymore?  Or has tolerance become, " I tolerate you, only if you agree with me"?  If so, then we know little of what true tolerance is.  As a follower of Jesus, my world view is Jesus centered.  Perhaps yours isn't.  I get "why" we may see things differently.  But I don't have to rhetoric bomb you into submission to my view, no more than you need to rhetoric bomb me into annihilation, either.  Perhaps if we as followers of Jesus...or as simply human beings...could set aside the distortions of the extreme left or right on any issue...and examine the core points of disagreement, we may actually get closer to the "truth" of the matter.  At the very least we could be respectful as we pursue "truth"...even when we disagree.  Hopefully diminishing the polarized rhetoric bombs in favor of encouraging one another towards truth.  What if we don't?  Then we will see more of the same.  Polarization and a retreating of ideas, as both camps on any issue hunker down to protect themselves from the incoming enemy fire.  And "truth" loses.  "Respect" loses.  "Love" loses.  In the end, humanity loses, because we have lost so much in the causalities of our rhetoric wars...most importantly, we lose each other...and that is sad.  We can be better than that!  Jesus calls us to a better way...

be God's!
Brian O
Lead Pastor dude
ECHO