LAY DOWN YOUR SWORD, TAKE UP YOUR CROSS
Kendra Intihar
Today's Scripture: “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” Proverbs 14:29, ESV
Theme: Don’t let things like political talk get to you. Cool your temper, slow down and cultivate understanding.
DEATH STAIRS
Apparently, in a recent scroll through Facebook, I lingered just a moment too long on a picture of some wonky stairs. How do I know this? Because my feed is now overflowing with photographs of “death stairs.” Eventually, the algorithm will correct itself and realize that I don’t care all that much about stairs, but it’ll find something new for me to fixate on. Has this ever happened to you? You glance at one picture or read one story for just a little too long, and suddenly, a never-ending stream of similar photos and stories floods your newsfeed?
Sometimes, this is harmless — like with the “death stairs.” But the goal of social media algorithms is to trigger our brains to release dopamine. The more dopamine, the longer we stay engaged, creating endless opportunities for those hits.
ADDICTED TO ANGER
Studies show that when we nurture anger, it rewires our neurobiology to reward us. Just like any other addiction, our brains will happily adapt to release dopamine every time we find ourselves in a rage. I discovered this firsthand several years ago, when I was getting on Twitter just to “doomscroll.” Every tweet that incited my fury was a brand-new rush of dopamine with every swipe of my thumb. I was falling down my own little set of “death stairs,” because without realizing it, I had become addicted to anger.
I deleted Twitter in the summer of 2022, and as silly as it may sound, I experienced some withdrawal. That’s when I first realized that anger is a marketable commodity, and my mind was making the purchase over and over again. The news, for instance, is often full of rage-bait. If you know anyone who’s addicted to their favorite news channel, that isn’t a coincidence; it was designed with addiction in mind. Anger is for sale, and our minds are a fertile marketplace! Modern social media algorithms have made this especially dangerous. If your social media senses that a particular issue or group ignites your anger, you’ll see it repeatedly. We eagerly consume the outrage our feeds produce.
PEOPLE OF PEACE IN AN ERA OF RAGE
There is a lot to be angry about right now, and it feels really good to be mad, but the Bible reminds us that the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20). As believers, we are called to be people of peace in an era of rage. The path of peacemaking is so challenging that few dare to tread it. The way of Jesus is demanding. There’s just no two ways about it. It’s easy to call Him “Savior,” but it’s much harder to live according to His commands and bear the spiritual fruit of peace and self-control.
Sword-wielding in a world of other sword-wielders is our human nature, yet Jesus requires us to lay down our swords, take up our crosses, and follow Him instead.
Make it Personal: Jesus said to Pontius Pilate, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting.” (John 18:36, NRSV). Let’s show concern without catastrophizing. Let’s sow unity, not division. Let’s let faith, not fear, drive our actions. Let’s place our trust in the sovereignty of God, and when people ask us how we can be peaceful in times like these, let’s be ready to answer.
Pray: Please join me today in praying this prayer, authored by St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace):
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Read: 2 Timothy 2:23-25; James 3:17-18; Titus 3:1-9
Weekly Memory Verse: “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” I Peter 2:17, ESV