Women’s Ministry Minute
June 4, 2020
With Amy Myers
Most people know me as someone who is pretty laid back, slow to anger, quick to forgive. However, there are a few things that will flip my switch. One of those is a bully. I was bullied in middle school to the point that I started studying karate – and I learned it well. Extremely well. Fortunately, I also learned to “use my words.” Over the years, I have taken down several bullies, mostly with words, but not always. Sometimes they were my bullies, but sometimes they were messing with someone else. Either way, I always felt compelled to act.
What happens when the bullies are on a national stage, though? What happens when an elected leader is a bully? Or when police use their position to abuse or kill someone? Well, it turns out that my anger just burns, and there is no apparent outlet for it.Yes, I know about righteous anger, but what I’ve been feeling is not always righteous. It has ventured into hate – and not just hatred of sin, but hatred of the people who sin. Now I’m the one in sin! What happened to my laid back, slow to anger, quick to forgive nature?
Tracy’s lesson on Sunday really hit home for me. Eph. 4:31-32, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” This is possible with people around me, sometimes difficult, but usually not. It’s very hard with people I don’t know personally and can’t approach like those on the national stage. My inability (unwillingness?) to get rid of my bitterness and anger is beginning to have negative physical and emotional effects on me – just like Tracy talked about in Sunday’s lesson.
Our country is facing some incredibly challenging issues that need our attention. I am not suggesting that we be silent and allow the abuse to continue. Far from it! However, being angry to the point of hate is not the answer. I’ve been extremely challenged reading Romans 12. A few phrases that keep pokingat me include, “hate what is evil, cling to what is good,” “Do not repay anyone evil for evil,” “Do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath.” There is so much more in this chapter, but verse 21 is the real clincher for me: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
I’m still figuring this out, still struggling. It’s going to take a lot more fasting and praying, begging God for a heart like Jesus, who asked God to forgive his most awful oppressors. Let’s all keep after it. Don’t give up!