Did You Read It by Michael Ramsden Pool

Christian Living

Overcoming Bitterness, Living Costless

There was a time I had a serious conversation with a loved 1. As he brought upwardly a shortcoming of mine that injure others around me, my center sank and my head drooped.

His tone was gentle and patient and the intent was plainly to rebuke me in love, but something about criticism always stuns me. It meant I tin't keep up with a façade of perfection anymore—I have to face up the discomfort of my mistakes.

He paused to catch his breath.

The first thing I blurted out after a few brusque moments of silence was, "Do you lot hate me???"

So, I began to cry.

Victim-based culture

Instances like this come to mind as I reflected on Michael Ramsden'due south talk on Finding Certainty in an Uncertain Globe at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Ramsden brought upwardly several key ideas, but none made as indelible an impression on me as when he explained the different responses people accept towards attacks (or criticism, in my case).

In a victim-based culture, people experience defined by their present or historical weaknesses.

Ramsden framed the dissimilar responses people have inside a sociological agreement of cultures. He shared with us that we are now living in what many sociologists term a 'victim-based culture'. In this civilisation, people feel divers by their present or historical weaknesses.

They think: everything wrong about my life is washed to me; it'southward e'er someone else'south fault, not mine; I'm not in whatsoever position to do annihilation virtually it; and respect should be accorded to me considering I'm a victim.

Everything others practice to me is viewed as hatred, at the same time causing bitterness to well upwardly inside me.

Coloured lenses

How I responded above is one of many instances that fit right into victim-based culture thinking. As I write this, I realise that the voices in my head are usually laced with resentment and dejection, colouring the way I view my friendships, familial relationships, the manner in which I alive my life and the mode I run across God.

On the flip side, in that location is proficient news. Similar showers of rain on a scorching solar day, in that location's relief in finding out that information technology is possible to remember and live differently.

Like showers of rain on a scorching day, there's relief in finding out that it is possible to call back and live differently.

Ramsden shared a story about Archbishop of Northern Nigeria Ben Kwashi and his wife Gloria, 2 individuals he is friends with. They adopted many children and as well run a children's shelter in the urban center of Jos. They've also faced great trials—namely—in the three attempts on Ben'due south life by terrorists.

Ane night, Ben was supposed to render from visiting the Queen in England. But his flight was cancelled and he would only arrive the next morning time. Terrorists visited his home that night wanting to kill him, but constitute Gloria, his wife, instead.

They interrogated her simply didn't believe her when she said he would exist domicile tomorrow. Then they beat out her, raped her, put a gun in her mouth and pulled the trigger. Ben found his wife unconscious, lying in a puddle of blood the next morning.

Gloria was in a coma for the side by side three months and Ben wasn't sure if he would meet her again. When she finally came to, he leant over her and said, "Gloria, nosotros have been offered asylum by the Queen of England. We can go out." Gloria looked at her hubby and answered,

"But Ben, who volition wait after all the children? We have to stay."

Till this day, they live in the aforementioned place and in the same town. They're now reaching out to the people who tried to kill them.

Michael Ramsden from Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in a Apr 2019 talk in NTU in conjunction with Festival of Idea.

Ramsden spoke with solemnity and the lecture theatre grew quiet. Seizing this moment, he emphasised how incredibly powerful it is—even when we suffer extreme injustice (or even simply the stress of everyday life)—to answer in honey instead of bitterness.

God's honey shows us a better way

The message that Jesus came to bring into this world is that nosotros can learn to dearest even those who hate united states of america. We don't need to answer with hatred, define ourselves every bit victims and we shouldn't allow an agenda of bitterness to take over. Why? Considering God's dear shows the states a better way.

In the Book of Jonah, God's dear led to His forgiving the people of Nineveh despite their heinous sins. God's response is stark against Jonah's bitterness and victim-based thinking, when He says,

"And should not I pity Nineveh, that neat urban center, in which in that location are more than than 120,000 persons who practise not know their right paw from their left…?"

Equally I read Jonah 4 a few times, amazingly I was also reminded of Jesus' last words on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Words that were spoken in love towards the people who tortured and killed him.

It takes intentional attempt to not let bitterness consume united states equally nosotros acquire to relate to each other.

Listening to the story about Ben and Gloria Kwashi'due south response, reading about the way God loved in Jonah and remembering Jesus' words on the cross renewed hope within my spirit.

There is a ameliorate way to think, to live and to relate with others. We shouldn't allow an agenda of bitterness to accept over and nosotros mustn't.

Charlotte Sim

Charlotte identifies herself as a creator and communicator. She first joined NTU Cru as a educatee and is at present a staff with Cru Singapore to communicate and create for the crusade of the gospel. You can usually discover her with a book in one mitt and a million and one ideas in her caput.

Comments

Latest Stories in Christian Living

©1972-2022 Cru Singapore. All Rights Reserved.

everetthersentooped.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.cru.org/sg/en/stories/spiritual-growth/christian-living/overcoming-bitterness.html

Share this post