We put down someone or something with criticism, an unflattering remark, an innuendo, anything inflammatory:
Church A over Church B...or vice versa
Homeschooling over Public School...or vice versa
Democrat over Republican...or vice versa
Anything I'm for that you are not if I'm choosing to be antagonistic toward you or your cause...or vice versaPut downs are encased in antagonism.
I often advise parents of teens: do your best not to antagonize. Adolescence is a chilling showcase of up and down emotions that seek order and find little. Teens need to bump up against someone calm and stable and well-thought out, able to advise without becoming inflammatory. In short, someone who can talk without put downs.
The world is a bit adolescent--it is a chilling showcase of up and down events, positions, and emotions that seek order and find little. The world needs to bump up against a set of someones calm and stable and well-thought out, able to discuss without becoming inflammatory. In short, a set of someones who can talk without put downs.
As believers, as Christ-followers, that set of someones could be...us.
But too often, and sadly, the model of put downs begins with us. We stake out a claim the world needs to know and become so glued that we trade inviting for inflammatory: well-thought out words for put downs.
Healing from put downs is found in the words of the old song, Let There Be Peace on Earth:
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