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They predict disastrous consequences if some people are treated differently.
All of the movements these days such as religious freedom, women's movements, Indian movements, gay rights, and civil rights boil down to this one issue; people want and even demand to be treated fairly. Of course, Holy Scripture elaborates on what is pure and what is not. Some people are fed by hatred and fear. Some focus on the differences between people. They predict disastrous consequences if some people are treated differently. We should avoid being judgmental and leave that to God alone. We need to fervently pray for those who may be in ignorance regarding truth, not to mention government officials.
There are not any real significant differences between all the peoples of the world. A profitable attitude would be to focus on the traits we do share. Except for a few unfortunate ones, we all love our children, if we have any; we all love our significant other; and we all desire safe food and clean water and clean air. So what is the underlying global problem besides greed? I dare say it is the lack of forgiveness. Can we actually adopt an attitude that includes the imperative to forgive? At the same time we "seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow" (Isaiah 1: 17).
In 2007, Virginia Tech experienced tragic losses in a campus shooting, and now most recently, a shooting in Furguson, Missouri. Prior to this, in 2006, there was a young father full of repressed rage who methodically attacked an Amish schoolhouse, killing five girls. As this horrible event amazed the populace, the Amish community forgave instead of returning rage for rage. How was that possible? From Hiroshima to Johannesburg, from Bangladesh to Belfast, the choice to forgive was a benefit and beacon for mankind. To even the score was spurned. I do believe that September 11 and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are just the opposite.
In Kansas, Arizona, and Texas, there has been an increase in the number of drunken driving deaths. The State Department of Transportation has allocated approximately one million dollars for equipment and overtime costs to assist law enforcement personnel and the Kansas Highway Patrol to combat this grave and threatening problem. Drunk driving is an excellent example of an attitude gone amiss. Talking or texting while driving is another example of an attitude problem, which, if continued, can cause deaths. It is paramount that when we change our base attitudes, this can save life, not destroy it. The main point here is that whether it's an abuse of alcohol, drugs, or even sex, attitude affects every one of us to one degree or another. It could hurt a close loved one or our wallets. And so the vicious nebula permeates society unless there is an attitude change.
We must understand that if our general attitude toward our fellow man lacks some genuine love, then we are just a noisy gong or a waterless cloud just drifting along. To put this more succinctly, if we see someone in dire need and we have the opportunity, do we just turn away, or do we show compassion like Jesus Christ did? Do we have the highest wish for another human being, or are we self-centered? Are we too busy to help another? With genuine love in our hearts, we can then fight evil head on; we expose it by contrast. We then have discernment. We then even have the power to love those who hate us, because we have acquired the Holy Spirit from God Almighty. Good overcomes evil. Evil cannot overcome goodness unless we allow it to. The force of good is in all of us. It's just a matter of choice. Let's close with this: "For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?" (Matthew 16: 26).
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