Ramblings from Retirement – Words Mean Things

 Ramblings from Retirement – Words Mean Things
By Retired Pastor Lee Hemen
May 5, 2021

Recently there was a video played on national TV that displayed a black woman pulled over by a sheriff deputy for driving while talking on her cell phone. She claimed she was a teacher, had her child in the car sitting next to her and luckily the officer had his own body camera filming the whole scene. By the way the officer remained completely professional, courteous, and did his job while the woman went totally berserk berating the officer with racial slurs, vulgar language, and name calling. It turns out she has a history of doing this and tired to file a police report of the incident claiming that the officer profiled her for no reason. Good thing the deputy had videoed the whole incident.

I was reminded of when Jesus related to the crowd that “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. (Matthew 5:21-26 NIV)”

I have learned that when people resort to name calling, vulgar language, or racial slurs they do so because they do not have a logical or cogent argument for their wrong actions or attitudes. It is like the old adage where two boys are arguing and one says something disparaging about the other boy’s father and the fist one retorts, “So’s your old man!” And this is where many are in the world today. They have taken on the problems of society and now feel justified by belittling, berating, or abusing others in the name of racial equality.

Satan and socialism knows that the best way to defeat believers or a nation is to divide and conquer. If you can make people think they are being righteous and or justified in their anger at another group or individual you have broken down their logical and spiritual barriers of loving one another and unity. Satan loves it when people divide into “camps” of us versus them.

What’s the answer? Jesus said it best when he related that we should first love God completely and then our neighbor as we love ourselves. When we are willing to love God we will follow his precepts of love, acceptance, and forgiveness. Race, illogical irrational arguments, anger, hurt feelings are no longer the issue. Loving God means taking your problem to him, getting right with the one you have a problem with, and being unified in God’s love. And remember if “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. (Psalms 103:8 NIV)” shouldn’t you be also?

So today dear child of the Lord do not resort to anger, name calling, or irrational outbursts but instead remember words mean things and those things could have a huge impact on your life for eternity.

This article is copyrighted © 2021 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.

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