Recently I have seen numerous social media posts telling stories of ‘church members’ and ‘christians’ behaving in ways contrary to their professed beliefs. They detail harsh words of criticism or judgment without knowing the circumstances or mistreatment of a sensitive situation or people. These stories are heart wrenching and certainly point to specific instances of wrongdoing. We have all felt the sting of unjust faultfinding or ignorant judgment. It hurts. No doubt there is unfairness and meanness and even hypocrisy on both a social and personal level that is a persistent problem in our mortal experience.
The posts that are shared with the intent to educate and enlighten us of these wrongs have their place. But there is danger in dwelling on those negativities most of the time. We run the risk of labeling a church or a belief system (or any group) by the adverse examples of some of its members (the same principle applies to individual people in all their complexity as well.) The tendency is to begin to define the organization by the flawed actions of certain people, rather than recognizing the differences between what is taught and what is being lived. Those negative actions start to color our perception of everything associated with that group or people. The truth is that all people and therefore all earthly groups are imperfect to some extent. It is easy to see those imperfections (usually they are so glaring!) and tempting to focus on them. When we do so, however, we may unwisely discount all of the good that they both do and miss the opportunities for learning and blessings they may offer.
Most likely, for every negative experience we have with a member of any given group, we have more positive experiences with others of the same group–we just don’t post about (or recognize, or acknowledge) them. What if there were posts of all the times someone said something kind, reached out in love, served without thought of reward, or behaved responsibly? What if we rewarded with the same publicity and intensity all of the grace we were extended? How would our perspective of people and organizations be transformed if all of the good that was done received the same treatment as all of the bad? Would we not find that we see more reasons for hope, more confidence in mankind, more unity and love in place of divisiveness? I think we would simply find that life is happier and more full of goodness than we sometimes think.
Perhaps with this mindset, we can, in a small way, as President Hinckley once urged: “…stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I’m suggesting that we accentuate the positive. I’m asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort.” (“The Lord Is at the Helm,” BYU Speeches, March 6, 1994) And while there will always be a need for wisdom and righteous judgment in what and who we allow to influence us, we may find that merciful eyes find mercy, forgiving hearts find forgiveness and positive minds find sustaining, hopeful good in the world.
