Every day there seems to be another crisis. As I scroll on my phone, there it is. I started writing this when one tragedy happened. Then I finished it during a different one. Every day. Another tragedy. Another issue. Another argument. And with tragedy, there comes another cultural moment demanding a response. 
 
As a follower of Jesus, it can feel overwhelming. I don’t want to be driven by outrage, but there is still quite a bit of pressure to have a hot take or enter into every dialogue. As I have felt this pressure, here is a list of questions I've recently put together to help me have a response shaped by Jesus (and his love). 

Warning: these questions are not meant to give perfect answers, or even to tell you what to respond to and how. Really, they are meant to slow me down. And while I slow down, they are also meant to refocus me on Jesus. 
 
Do I have a clear and accurate understanding of what actually happened?
It's easy to get ahead of ourselves. There's been more than one instance where I have read a headline, gotten worked up and angry, then read the article and realized it was something different than I assumed. Before forming opinions or sharing reactions, am I grounded in the truth? Is what I know about this accurate, rather than only headlines, assumptions, or secondhand information?

What does God have to say about this?
This is foundational, but really important. Am I allowing Scripture to shape me and my perspective? Or, and I am guilty of this, too, am I letting culture (or outrage or personal preference) speak louder than God’s Word?

Am I reacting emotionally, or responding thoughtfully?
I hear a piece of news and my body reacts. To oversimplify, I get mad or sad or glad. So, as I react... is that what is driving me? A response driven by impulse. Or, am I being driven by the character and wisdom of Jesus? More than once I have waited to respond thoughtfully and I ended up also responding differently (or not at all). 

Am I seeing people as people to be loved or as problems to be solved?
We are tempted to reduce someone made in God’s image to a label. Whether it's a position or obstacle. We see them as problems, not people. If you are responding with something like, "How could they?" it is important to stop and think - "Who are you speaking about? And to?" People on every side of every issue are created by God, and loved by God. Am I seeing them that way?

How is Jesus inviting me to love my neighbor in this moment?
I have a responsibility as a follower of Jesus to love my neighbor. When things go crazy in the world, what does faithfulness look like right now toward the people affected, especially those who are hurting or vulnerable? That's really what Jesus commanded. 

Who am I representing in the way I respond?
If you follow Jesus, you are an ambassador for Jesus. So, every single time you speak or post, ask, "Do my words, tone, and posture reflect Jesus and his kingdom, or just my own opinions?"

Is my posture marked more by certainty or by humility?
Turns out, we are all wrong sometimes. We will be wrong, and the more we dialogue and learn about big issues, the more we see there is a lot of room for interpretation. Ask some version of, "Am I leaving room to listen, learn, and be corrected? Or do I assume I already see the whole picture?"

How am I guarding my heart and mind?
I cannot handle every heartbreaking situation in the world. I'm not designed to do so. God is. What am I allowing to shape me (including what I read and listen to and talk about)? Is it constant outrage? Fear? Peace and truth of Christ? Our answer to this feeds how we interact with the world. 

Where do I need to pause and pray before I post, speak, or act?
Usually, we need to do this early on, and then again, and then maybe again. Oh, and again. PAUSE... and then, invite God into this moment before inviting others into my thoughts. 

How is God calling me to reflect his kingdom in a divided world?
When I look back on my life, what will jump out? Our culture today is marked by hostility and division. It can be difficult to navigate. I personally desire my life to point toward a better way. One marked more by love than by anything else, and rooted in truth and hope. 
 
I won’t always know the right thing to say or do in every situation. None of us will. But we can always choose who is shaping us. My hope is that these questions help you slow down. As you do so, you also invite Jesus into the moment and respond in a way that reflects who he is and what he's all about. When things feel chaotic and divided, my hope is our lives point to a better way. The way of Jesus.

Whatever it takes,
Adam Johnson
Lead Pastor