Caring

And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

 - From Hebrews 10

A lot of people believe that the following are good deeds:

• Posting on Facebook something about how hypocritical Christians are
• Hating Donald Trump
• Joining with tens of thousands in protest over something
• Being outraged when someone uses hate speech
• Getting out the vote
• Wrecking the appearance of your car, with bumper stickers
• Unliking someone
• Getting a politician elected
• "Educating" people about some controversial cause
• Ridiculing someone with a different viewpoint

I could probably add to the list, doubling or tripling it. The author of the letter to the Hebrews said to "provoke" one another to love and good deeds. Provoke. I would take that to mean push them. Egg them on. Stir them up. Prod them. Irritate them. Shame them. Guilt them. 

If the desired outcome is love and good deeds, it would appear God will give you some slack if you come across a little too strong. 

You can't love someone with a bumper sticker. It is not a good deed, if you have made someone angry and resentful, over your political views. 

And in the list above, there is not a single example of love, or good deeds. The Apostle Paul wanted us following Christ. And Christ met people face to face. He dealt with their present, immediate needs. He cared for the person. The whole person. He taught crowds, but touched individuals. He healed them in small numbers. 

And I marvel that so many believe that doing something like in the list above, qualifies you as "good."

Research shows that most people make value judgments about others, based on how much they care. If someone helps you out, sacrifices a little time and money for you . . . that means they "care." You could consider them a "good" person. A Democrat can hurl vulgarities all day long, at the deplorable qualities of some Conservative, to the point the Conservative cannot stand the Democrat. But if the the Democrat give the Conservative a ride when his car breaks down, just like that, the Democrat becomes a "good" person in the eyes of the Conservative. 

People don't care how much you know. But they can know how much you care. And that's really the only thing they care about. 

So many of our on-line and political arguments are due to the speaker feeling he or she is being ignored . . . not listened to. 

Show me a person that listens, and I'll show you a person that cares. 

Drop the politics. Drop the anger and the divisive behaviors. Is there some injustice in the world? Don't tell me about it! Go do something about it!! But do it lovingly! 

At least act like you care!!