Offering Hope in a Divided World: A Place At The Table

Every time we look at the news feeds on our phones or turn on the TV whether it be CNN, Fox News, or MSNBC, we are bombarded with headlines that have the potential to further increase our distrust in the political system. More than 8 in 10 individuals think the country is in a divided state over issues that matter, according to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll. If two people engage in a conversation with different political or social opinions, there's no telling as to what could happen. That seems ever apparent in today's political setup where politicians resort to name calling and ad hoc arguments instead of formulating bipartisan solutions. There's always the famous question of whether Jesus would identify as a Republican or Democrat with Christians on every side of the political spectrum using scripture to justify their social or political stances. If we are following the trend of resorting to scripture and the gospel for times of increased division, I think it's important to examine what Jesus would really want. It's evident in scripture throughout many of his interactions that Jesus would first start with inviting someone to have a place at the table. Jesus encountered and interacted with individuals drowned in sin, those affected by poverty, victims of injustice, social outcasts, the elites of society, and every person who had a name and a story. What mattered is that they brought something to the table. They had a place to talk and discuss where they came from, what their situation was, and how they needed help. In the story of when Jesus faced the adulterous woman, he ran into a group of men who were ready to stone her. Yet Jesus said that whoever lived a life free of sin should be the first to throw the stone. What happened next was not a stoning, but a dismissal of the men who realized their guilt, recognized their sin, and saw their potential hypocrisy. What was left was Jesus and the woman when Jesus then informed her that he did not condemn her and to go and sin no more (John 8:1-11). What is incredible about this story and the others of Jesus laid out in The New Testament is that Jesus sets an example for us to live a life worth imitating.

A prominent Christian who inspires for unity, attorney and New York Times Best-Selling Author Bob Goff, has this incredible book called Love Does where he outlines this vision of what it looks like to live a life according to Jesus. He has this quote that I think could be used now more than ever. “Words of encouragement are like that. They have their own power. And when they are said by the right people, they can change everything. What I've found in following Jesus is that most of the time, when it comes to who says it, we each are the right people. And I've concluded something else. That the words people say to us not only have shelf life but have the ability to shape life.” What I think Bob is trying to say here is that it's the moment we open ourselves up to other people that matter. The actions we take, even the small ones, to reach out to others and check in with them, even if they seem different to our own standards, can have such a lasting impact on what it means to extend a helping hand. In our society, this can be extremely relevant and applicable. Instead of resorting to actions that separate us, let's just simply invite people to have a place at the table. The table is where some of the most real important conversations can happen. We don't necessarily have to have an agenda, what we can have is an intention to listen and a desire to love. It is okay to have disagreements, because sometimes disagreements can bring out the best solutions. It is the important conversations that happen in a setting that allows people to feel like they matter. In the midst of life's chaos with pain, suffering, disease, sickness, poverty, injustice, etc., one of the ways we can live like Jesus and to live a life worth imitating, is to see behind the disagreements & the arguments and to see a person who has a story. Sometimes getting to know that story allows us to think more about our experiences and how our experiences can actually be more common than we think they are. These experiences whether common or diverse allow for development and development allows for change.

It may sound simple at first glance for followers of Christ and the rest of the human race to go and do these calls for action, but I promise it is not. It will continuously take work, perseverance, and patience. I am working on these techniques each and every day, just like many others. I understand life can be hectic and unpredictable so it is okay to slow down. In our rushed lives with so many things on our agenda or appointments on our schedule, there is always one guarantee: the table will always be there with your name on the chair. The table is long, the chairs are abundant, and the room for conversation is endless. As long as there is a table, there is always room for conversation and change, even among disagreements. Let's discover that table and let's invite people like Jesus would, together.