I have a confession.
I try to be transparent on my page because as a teacher, I want you to learn from my example. But also, I want to model a lifestyle that is contemplative and repentive. There is absolutely no condemnation in Christ, therefore it’s okay to examine yourself and admit you were wrong.
Today, I must examine my thoughts and admit I was wrong.
If you have never heard the TED Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story”, I highly suggest you listen.
Yesterday, as I was driving home from a long day, the Holy Spirit convicted me of “Single Storying” people.
Single Storying is when you take one fact about a person – their ethnicity, their profession, their political view, their socio-economic status and view them in the light of that one fact.
I had done that with so many and I had to repent.
You see, humans are complex people. None of us can easily fit into a category. We are simultaneously flawed and someone’s hero. We are both selfish and generous. We can in one breath say something profound and in the next say something incredibly dumb. Remember Apostle Peter?
Humans cannot be “single storied.”
But Single Storying someone is easy. It requires no discernment. No relating to another. Just one quick snap judgment and your work is done.
But the problem is, when we “Single Story” people, we will either be disappointed or surprised. We will miss opportunities to get to know people whom God has created. We will dismiss groups of people or idolize them. Both are dangerous. Neither is godly.
But when we take the time to get to know people, we may find we have more in common than not. We may find treasures and resources. We may find a different expression of Jesus we would not have known.
Yesterday, I had to repent.
Yesterday, God opened my eyes to see people as He sees them and not based on a single story. I saw flawed heroes. Flawed heroes is real thing. And the world is full of them. I am one of them and I’m willing to bet, so are you!
Are you “single storying” people? Repent (change your mind) and then get to know that person personally. Ask God to help you see their full story. You may be surprised by the richness and depth of their lives.
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““But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, “Oh no, Lord! This will never happen to you!” Jesus turned and told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns but human concerns.””
Matthew 16:15-17, 22-23 CSB
This is a Repost from 2021