Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.
1 Peter 2:1

This is a interesting command given the hyper-politicized, 24/7 news society we live in.

Politicians and the news media do a great job of polarizing society (i.e, rich vs. poor, white vs. black or brown, left vs. right, vaxxers vs. anti-vaxxers, prochoice vs. anti-abortion [their terms], gun nut vs. responsible gun owner, etc.) and prod us into hating certain groups of people.

I find myself thinking, saying, and writing things I’d rather not just to get my point across. Seconds after I post it I realize that I should probably take it down. There’s nothing wrong, of course, in voicing opinions, but when it comes slandering and maligning others, that’s not so good.

The Bible says we are to have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). When we have the mind of Christ, we see life and people differently. Ours isn’t to win an argument but to expose falsehoods and lies, reveal the truth, have compassion on those who need it, and live as Christ would want us to live.

Yes, the world is fallen and we succumb to its temptations all too often. We need to be reminded of the very basics of our faith. That’s how we change the world, not by putting others down but revealing the light of Christ within us.