Session 27: Navigating the Grey (Are You Loving Your Neighbor?)

What do you do when you come across someone who thinks different from you?
How do you respond when someone has a different opinion than you?

• Are you Democrat or Republican
• Are you Pro Mask or Anti-Mask?
• Are you for the Vaccine or against the Vaccine?

We live in a day of such polarizing views, that if someone thinks different from us, we assume them to be our enemy. But not everything in life is Black and White. Not everything always has a clear Right and Wrong.

What if there was a second way of viewing things?
What if there was some GREY? 
How different could our life be if we actually took the time to hear others perspective?
What if listening to someone else's perspective actually demonstrated that you care and love your neighbor?

Practical Questions

• Are you making yourself a servant to all people, or are you living in your rights?
• Are you doing EVERYTHING you can to find common ground with EVERYONE?
• Are you allowing your rights to get in the way from serving and loving others?

Practical Action Steps

1. What’s my MOTIVE when I post or speak? Do I speak and post with hate? Or do I speak and post with a motive of the love of Christ? If its hate, I have good news. 
2. REPENT! GO to God. He’s a God who extends mercy, grace and healing for ALL people.
3. Who do I need to CONNECT with that’s different from me?
   - Politically
   - Culturally
   - Racially
   - Generationally
   - Gender
   - Class
4. What can I PRACTICALLY do to connect with those who are different from me?
   - Prayer (FOR them or WITH them)
   - Phone Call
   - Text
   - Conversation (Listen to their Story and Ask a LOT of Questions)

Additional Resources

• What's Your Foundation? by Mark K. Benton II (PODCAST) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-book-of-acts-whats-your-foundation/id959114805?i=1000527796452
• What's Your Foundation? by Mark K. Benton II (YOUTUBE) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY6XWQ1hq_c&t=1386s
• Parable of the Good Samaritan by Pastor Mike Burnette (PODCAST) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parables-parable-of-the-good-samaritan/id959114805?i=1000533464207
• Parable of the Good Samaritan by Pastor Mike Burnette (YOUTUBE) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1-J_t0sJMk
• Parable of the Two Sons by Pastor Mike Burnette (PODCAST) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parables-parable-of-the-two-sons/id959114805?i=1000532745216
• Parable of the Two Sons by Pastor Mike Burnette (YOUTUBE) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08salFbU3DI

Contact me at:

• Instagram: @markkbenton2 https://www.instagram.com/markkbenton2/
• Facebook: Mark K. Benton II https://www.facebook.com/mkbenton2
• Facebook: Group Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/351427136178806
• Website: https://www.markkbentonii.com

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