Solving the World's Problems

I’d like you to try something.  Think of an issue that’s making national headlines right now.  There are all kinds of them, of course, and for the purpose of this exercise, it really does not matter which one you choose.  Just pick one.

Whatever it was, I suspect there’s one thing that’s true.  There are a whole lot of people on one side of the issue, and there are a whole lot of people on the other side.  And some of those on the one side are completely convinced that they’re right and that the people on the other side are not just wrong, but are stupid and/or evil.  And some of those on the other side are just as convinced that they’re right and that the people on the one side are not just wrong, but are stupid and/or evil.  And the two sides don’t even really talk to each other, they simply talk at each other or across each other.  There’s no attempt at compromise or in finding a way to work together for a common solution.  Each side is simply trying to win and make the other side lose.

That’s not a good thing.  Now, you may say at this point that there are some things that should not be compromised, and I agree with that.  I can think of things that should not be compromised.  But not very many.  And even then, we should treat those who disagree with us with respect and with love.  We should not just talk at them and call them stupid simply because their opinion is different from ours.

We could spend a long time discussing how we’ve reached this point, but I don’t know that we’d accomplish a lot.  What we do need to discuss, though, is this:  What can we do about it?  How can we stop everything being about winning and losing and make it be about working together for common solutions?

I think there’s only one way.  I think we need to stop putting our faith in people, in governments, or in other institutions.  We have to stop putting our faith in “our side”.  Instead, we need to put our faith in God.  We need to be on God’s side.  And the only way we can do that is to truly open ourselves up to God.  The only way we can do that is to ask God to come into our hearts and into our minds.  And we need to ask that frequently, because it’s very likely that, when God does try to come into our hearts and minds, we will resist.  And God will allow us to resist.  God wants to come into our heart and our minds, but God go there by force.  God waits for us to allow it.

Does that sound simplistic?  Well, maybe it is.  Does it sound far-fetched?  It might be.  But I’m convinced that it’s the only way.  We are not going to solve our problems by talking at each other or across each other.  We are not going to solve our problems by calling those who disagree with us stupid and/or evil.  And we are not going to solve our problems by “winning” and making the other side “lose”.  We will only solve our problems by working together.  And we will only start working together if we open ourselves up to God’s Spirit, because it’s only then that we accept God’s leadership and God’s guidance.

And you think, okay, that all sounds nice and everything, but how can the relatively few people who are reading this letter make any difference in the world?  Even if all of us reading this open ourselves up God’s Spirit, how will that matter to anything?

Well, maybe it won’t.  But consider a couple of things.  One is that every great movement started with just a few people, a few people who were determined and dedicated to making it happen.  All great movements start small and spread.  And the other is that we’re not going to be the only ones who have this idea.  I’m quite sure there are lots of other people who realize that the only way to solve our problems is by God’s Spirit working in and through us.

Again, I realize how utopian all this may sound.  But the continuing polarization of our society is not going to solve anything.  The only way we can move forward is to come together and work for the common good.  And the only way that’s likely to happen is with God.

So please pray.  Pray that God’s Spirit will come into your heart and into your mind.  And keep praying that way.  No matter what the issue is, we will never go wrong if we follow where God is leading us.