Contrary to the tone of the world today, you can disagree with someone, and still love them. You can have differing views and still be kind. Read that again!
These words were written by Brittany Mahomes, wife of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the World Champion Kansas City Chiefs football team, on August 26 in response to critics on social media of an article which she noted that she loved.
1 John 4:7-11 – God Is Love – Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Can anyone honestly say today that they love others the same way they did five years ago in 2019, before COVID hit our world? COVID, social media, and more recently financial concerns together have had a dramatic and negative impact on many people in our country and the entire world. Today, we have too many working adults completely stressed out over their work schedules, and their need to work harder to get ahead or make ends meet. Married adults who have children also are stressed out over the control of social media in their children’s lives, and its potential impact on their children’s mental health. Many retired older Americans are now having to go back to work to make ends meet, rather than enjoying this time which should allow them to enjoy their children, grandchildren, family, and friends. Stress seems to have taken over the lives of too many people lately in all age demographics, and it shows in how we are treating each other!
How did we get here so quickly, and how can we save our country and world? My first response would be that the decline in religion in our country for many years has been a major contributor to where we are today. COVID then gave government the opportunity to force churches and schools to close for too long a time, especially at a time where people needed God and human interactions in their lives more than ever.
Our country and the entire world needs to re-invigorate their Christian ideals and beliefs, and that effort needs to start with true believers. Can each of us take a stand like Brittany Mahomes and challenge others to stop the hating that has overtaken our world? Can true believers in Jesus Christ show the love to others that is displayed in the God Is Love scripture above?
Matthew 5:44 – But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Can we show love and also pray for those who may hate us? That is clearly God’s call to us. Love originated in God, it was manifested through Jesus for our benefit in His time on earth, and now must be clearly demonstrated by His people!
I would also note that we need to keep alive our processes for continuing to recruit new people to come to know God before Satan finds them. One great organization for doing so is Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), both locally and nationally, and even now internationally since 2007. One of the Covenant Church ministries is our local FCA, which is quite active in bringing high school athletes to God. Our local FCA had a kickoff event for this school year that drew over 700 local athletes and coaches (mostly football players since that is the biggest fall sport), fed them a meal (donated by Sonny’s BBQ!), had a very stimulating Christian music time, and then a dynamic presentation by a speaker. The event closed with much interest by most of the attendees and a request for about 60 baptisms as well.
I would also note that I just learned that a number of football players at Ohio State University led a baptism on campus just last week that drew 800 people and led to 60 baptisms that night. You can read more about this event at Ohio State football players participate in Christian baptism ceremony outside of Curl Market, over 800 gather to observe.
| Ohio State football players participate in Christian baptism ceremony ou…More on this event’s timeline, context and relationship with the university’s space standards below. Plus, read … |
At the risk of being verbose two weeks in a row, I would also strongly suggest the following Bible chapter to read this week – 1 Corinthians 13 on The Greatest Gift Is Love!
May you all have a most blessed week and pray for America and the world!