DC Talk - Colored People

I have a friend with whom my political views are almost completely polar opposite.  I know, how odd, right?  We disagree on almost everything.  While we were both pagan at one point, my choice to become a Christian is one she is absolutely at odds with - and therefore cannot understand.  I would say she's a raging liberal, but being categorized drives her insane.  She considers herself independent (and yet almost every belief she holds dear follows Democratic party lines!)

As we sat at dinner tonight, we were discussing the Boston Marathon bombings.  When dinner began they had not yet caught the 2nd suspect, and our discussion quickly led to speculation on WHY...why would these men do this...were they framed...were they brain-washed...was it a statement they were fully aware and engaged in sending and if so - WHAT WAS THE MESSAGE?  

My friend made a statement that...in retrospect...made me realize why our views diverge in so many ways.  

She said "I want to believe it wasn't really something they would do.  I don't want to believe there is that kind of evil in this world."

At the time, our conversation just continued, but after I came home tonight, I really thought about it.  

Perhaps a large part of our different views comes from my knowledge - KNOWLEDGE - that not only is there that kind of evil in this world, but thanks to Satan, people do things we would never have dreamed possible - horrible, evil, disgusting things.  

Maybe it seems simplistic to say that it only just occurred to me - she and I are not operating from the same paradigm of right and wrong.  I know God exists.  Because I know God exists, I know there is a moment by moment struggle in the supernatural.  I know that we are tempted CONSTANTLY to step outside of what God intends for us - and that Satan wants us to love that dark side so much, that we never turn back to God.  

I know that in the end, God has already overcome - and that if we BELIEVE in what God has given us, we are with God.  Satan can't take that away from us unless we let him. And sadly, far too many people let him - they live in the darkness, evil, and nastiness of this world.  As a child of God, I know that, and I accept it.  In accepting the fullness of the evil we can embrace - I also know the goodness of God - His Holiness - is so much greater - great enough to overcome that evil.

For my friend, that value system doesn't exist.  She measures things in terms of the rules of this world - a mix of belief in Karma, and that most people really are essentially good. For her, bad actions must be the result of something in our society mistreating anyone who would behave in an evil way - so we have to perfect society to keep that sort of things from happening.  For her, there is no foul in ending the life of a child conceived at an inconvenient time or in an inconvenient manner.  For her, there is no reason for firearms, because we should all love each other enough to not do bad things.  Really, it is a very idealistic way of looking at life.

And you know - in some sense, I agree.  We SHOULD all be able to live peacefully.  We SHOULD all be able to live life lovingly, without hurting each other, sharing all that we have.  We SHOULD take care of each other.  

But at the same time, the reality is that we do live in this world, where we are marred by original sin.  We live in a world where Satan revels in destroying the chance of us fully realizing a relationship with God.  We live in a world that just isn't as idyllic as we would all like for it to be.  

Reflecting, I guess it seems silly for me to have had that as an 'Aha!' moment - but it really was.  It was a moment of the Holy Spirit giving me that understanding, which made some of my friend's views a little less frustrating for me.  I know, it would frustrate her to know end for me to say that it helps me to have patience with her - I'm fairly certain she would find that somewhat patronizing coming from a Christian and all - but there IS a reason God brought me to that realization tonight.  

LONG ago, I had a cd with a collection of Christian songs, and one of them has always stuck with me.  The song is called 'Colored People', by DC Talk, and while on the surface, the song is about acceptance between all of us who have different skin colors, it always struck me a little differently.  Each of us, with our own lives, and experiences, and viewpoints...we are all a color.  We are our own individual color.  All of us together make up the rainbow God created in this world, and we are better all together - as the whole of God's creation.  In life, every color has different richness, depth, tone, value...we need to learn to value and respect the color God made each of us.  After all - if He thinks we have value, who are we to disagree?