The Battlefield, the Casualties, and ...

The Eastern Front -- the first successful Russian counterattack

the Culture War -- our continuing conflict over values and principles

We've faced challenges as a nation, and sometimes succeeded.  We wanted liberty, we wanted freedom from an oppressive empire, we wanted property rights and a return for our labor, all of which we've achieved, more or less.  In our pursuit of equality and the common good, however, we seem to have gone our separate ways and become as polarized as we were during the civil war.  A trend over the last thirty years, we've become more ideologically fractured than 'united' as a culture.

Extreme racial and ethnic prejudices have resurfaced and spread. Right and left have moved further apart and have little ability to work together.  Inequality has eroded the middle class, and the dream of a better life is unavailable to a large segment of our society.  Crime, violence, drugs, and incarceration are defining aspects of our society.  As unlikely as it seems, that's America today.

When we consider the battlefield in front of us, filled with violence and hostility, anger and irrationality and corruption ... it's hard to imagine a healthy response.  Do we fight force with force, go face the discrimination and extremism with political power and overwhelming counter-argument, tear down the walls with criticism and insult ... and loudly pass judgement on those who differ ... ???  That hasn't has worked, but instead has made things worse.

So how might we equip our children, who will follow our example, for the path ahead?

The Best Weapon:  We do live in the world, but we needn't fight the way the world fights. We have strength supporting us that the world doesn't have. With such grace from God, we can pull down walls, we can wipe away arguments and dismantle every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We can be the light that shines.

Such grace is not to be found in criticism or insult, not in judgement or discrimination, not in anger or hate or violence.

Daryl Davis (right) and a klan leader

One unusual fellow sought out the KKK members and made friends. They ate dinner together and talked things through. His friendship lead to two hundred KKK members changing their minds and leaving the organization. He is Daryl Davis, the famous musician. And he is black, a descendent of slaves.

"When two enemies are talking, they're not fighting," Davis said. A Chicago-born Christian, Davis traveled the world in his youth. After many countries and racially mixed cultures, coming home to America where folks could throw rocks at him because of his color was confusing, to say the least. It lead to a lifetime of confronting racism. His surprisingly successful tactic: friendship.

A good heart is an extraordinary weapon.

Strong love is durable, it makes a place for others and has no need to put another down or to insult or do harm. Strong love is a life-shaper, a help-bringer, a world-changer. It's the light that shines brightest on dark days. It's our greatest offering.