Wednesday, August 1, 2018

BOB Good morning! This is Bob Peden of Central, a United Methodist Community here in Meridian, Mississippi. The public discourse seems to become more ugly, hateful, prejudicial, vile, vulgar, profane, and unfairly critical every day. Everyday opposing sides throw lower and lower blows to try to take out their enemy. Whatever happened to when they go low, we will go high? Proverbs says, “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.” No one today deflects anger with a gentle answer and tempers are definitely flaring. As Christians, we should answer provocations in the manner of Simon Peter, the hothead from the gospels, who suggests in his letter written many years later: “Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So, don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” A gentle answer deflects anger.