Lessons from the Heart
Sound bites and decision
By Pastor Pam Ditson-McCall

McCall

We live in a time when serious and challenging issues are addressed with "sound bite" debates. Sound bites is a slang term for a very brief broadcast statement, as by a politician during a news report. Perhaps with all the political advertisements filling our airways and newspapers my irritation toward this type of information or lack of information is on high! We live in a sound bite world. Many Americans will make major decisions based on very little information.

Are you a sound bite theologian? Most Christians don't think of themselves as a theologian, that is a title for a pastor or seminary professors. All believers are theologians, because we live our lives based on our theology. Theology is simply the study of the nature of God and religious truth; rational inquiry into religious questions. Our goal, our challenge as Christians, is to always be seeking to understand what we believe about the Christian message of God and how then we, as individuals, and even as a community are to live in light of that message.

But do you know what that message is? How can one sum up how one feels about major social, moral and ethical issues in one or two sentences - let alone one or two scripture verses? With the ongoing debate of issues such as economic stability, environmental responsibilities, energy for the future, education as a priority, crime on the rise, abortion, gay marriage, the war in Iraq and on terrorism, and most recent the issue of immigration... what is one to do! Each generation of Christians has been burdened or blessed, depending on your perspective, to carefully, prayerfully, and armed with information to address the issues of their time. As Christians we must figure out the most fitting and faithful way

to act...drawing on our Christian sensibilities, both simple and complex. The best known guidelines of faithful living have always had to be interpreted and applied in light of changing situations.

It is time for all Christians and citizens of this nation to honestly sort out our agenda for the coming decades. If we continue forward with knee-jerk responses or worse, some dead-end analysis based on incomplete or onesided information, future generations will suffer. When equipped with good information, carefully drafted priorities, and common purpose we will achieve all our Lord desires for us and future generations. Jesus' teachings were filled with the ordinary stuff of life. Yet the teachings were so profound that we follow them today.

My hope is that we will all seek with some clarity and purpose what Jesus' teaching call us to be. To have meaningful conversation, not conversations filled with accusations. To reject this desire to label people and rail wildly at those whose views differ from ours, but allow intelligent and informed conversations to emerge from the dissonance. Let the conversations begin!

Pam Ditson-McCall is pastor at the Flora First Christian Church.