Listen to the Light

The Simon and Garfunkel song “Sound of Silence” which was recently re-popularized by the heavy metal group Disturbed is a commentary on how people can talk but nobody listens.

Sadly we’ve seen a lot of that in the news recently with literal physical violence occurring over issues, some tangible and some perceived that we as adults should be able to discuss and find resolution. For example, my news feed is littered with differing opinions of the NFL, athletes protesting during the Anthem and whether or not the act is constitutional or respectful, growing division and race wars in America, white privilege and reverse racism. Everyone has an opinion and even those who are adamantly on one side or the other of the issue seem to care more about being heard than the issue itself.

Take Jerry Jones for instance. I’m not a Cowboys fan, but I am a Jerry Jones fan. I think he’s a smart businessman and seemingly patriotic individual. At least my knowledge of his public profile supports my opinion. Mr. Jones has hosted the funeral of US Navy SEAL and hero Chris Kyle, attended and mourned the five slain Dallas police officers following BLM riots, and has been very vocal about supporting troops, police, and standing for the Anthem. However, Mr. Jones couldn’t keep from entering the current conversation about Anthem protests by kneeling with his team before the Anthem and standing with his team when the flag was unfurled. Like it or not, it was probably a solid business decision to do it that way.

Then there’s Alejandro Villanueva of the Pittsburgh Steelers who broke with the orders of Mike Tomlin and stood with hand over heart for the Anthem last Sunday – a day when over 200 NFL players protested the Anthem and Odell Beckham “peed” on command. CPT Villanueva (USA sep.) later apologized for throwing his teammates “under the bus unintentionally” in what appears to have been a botched play. I couldn’t keep up with the comments on FB lambasting players, coaches, Democrats, the Boogey Man and Colonel Sanders for what’s become a national conversation.

But is it? Is it an actual conversation? I see a lot of people talking – but nobody seems to be listening. If we're having a conversation, somebody needs to be listening.

Luke 8:16-18 sheds a little light on how we, as Christians, should be engaging in this national struggle. Jesus is relaying parables and explaining the meaning of his teachings to his disciples when he says,

“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

As Christians, we need to do more than broadcast, and we need to do more than hear what tickles our ears. If all we hear is objectionable content, spiritual condemnation, and criticism, then we’re going to close ourselves off and miss the glory that comes with the light. Don’t shield your eyes from the brightness; rather, open your eyes and take in everything the light is showing you.

I’ll revisit a comment I made a couple of days ago. The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy. Showing you only what offends you so you miss what is important is a tool of destruction. If you can’t see what comes from the light, you can’t be open to the lessons of the lamp. When the light is an educated argument, don’t close your ears when someone calls you “privileged” or “racist”; rather, seek the lesson behind the insult. Don't disengage at first contact. Don’t miss the truth because you’re blinded by the light.

So my challenge to you – and to myself – is to “consider carefully how you will listen.” If you listen with an open mind, you will see what is hidden in the light.