A Brobdingnagian Consideration

**I'll bet you're wondering about the word "Brobdingnagian." Stick with me and I'll explain further down.

There are so many issues today, and approaching any of them can be like opening a can of worm - or maybe like opening a bee hive. (Don't let our bees fool you; they are really the most docile bees ever!)

The Issues
There are many debates in our current worldwide situation with the COVID-19 virus:

mask or no mask

reopen businesses or not

the importance of social distancing

whether you can get the virus from objects touched

vaccine or no vaccine

contact tracing or no tracing

...and more!

The Responses

Of course, there are always numerous "hot button" topics and debates in life, but it seems like that number has increased significantly with this one virus. People respond to these debates in various ways. We may: 

immediately refute the claims made

respond at a later time

 talk about it with someone else (who will agree with us)

refuse to get involved

How do you respond when you see or hear one of these debates? How do you view the person(s) making the claims? In our current culture, people tend to attack others - very severely, in my opinion - simply for disagreeing with their opinion. Someone may be accused of being stupid, inhumane, the worst scum on the planet, told to kill themselves, and receive many comments of increasing vulgarity and rudeness, just for stating what they believe on social media or in response to an online news article. Personally, I generally choose not to get involved in a debate, but will sometimes respond later (often in writing - like this). However, this post is not about my views on any of these debates. This is about how we make our decisions about them.

Here are a few verses to consider:

Proverbs 15:1 - A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 11:12 - Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.

Proverbs 25:15 - Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

The Decisions

How do you make decisions when debates arise like these? I'm not talking about how you decide how to respond, but how do you decide what you truly believe about each one of them? How do you decide which viewpoint makes the most sense? How do you decide what is right? Honestly, at this time, everything is so polarized and extreme that there not much common ground in the middle. With that in mind, you might consider reading this article from the Victoria Advocate newspaper, printed on May 21, 2020: We'll find better discourse in the middle ground.

How do you decide what to do if you disagree, but it is a governmental policy, such as the shelter-in-place orders? Does your decision-making differ if you expect it to be for the short-term or long-term? How do you decide which battles are worth fighting?

The Bible is filled with a plethora of verses that can guide us. I notice an opportunity to include a new word about which our family learned recently: Brobdingnagian. It means "marked by tremendous size," according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Also according to the dictionary, it refers to "Brobdingnag, the imaginary land of giants in Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift" and came into usage around 1728. So, the list of verses from the Bible for us to consider is Brobdingnagian! It is so immense, honestly, that I will only include some here. This will assuredly not be a complete list. I know it's long, but I hope you'll read through all these verses and see which ones God might press into your own heart.

As you make your decisions - about anything - I encourage you to check your Bible and seriously take some time in prayer, asking God to show you His viewpoint and to make it your own. Ask Him to help you see the issues and the people involved the way He does.

Also, consider what the issue is changing. Ask if the change compromises God's commands, or if it is an issue of preference. Unfortunately for all the people-pleasers, we can never make everyone happy. Maybe it's more fortunate than unfortunate to know that. As I've often told my children, the expectation is to "always do the right thing, no matter what."

A Not-So Brobdingnagian List of Bible Verses

Romans 12:3 - For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Romans 14:1 - Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.

Romans 14:13 - Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

Romans 15:1 - We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

Genesis 1:27 - So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

John 1:3 - Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

1 Corinthians 6:12 - "Everything is permissible for me" - but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me" - but I will not be mastered by anything.

1 Corinthians 10:23-23 - "Everything is permissible" - but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible" - but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

1 Corinthians 8:9 - Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 - All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Romans 12:2 - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 13:1 - Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for these is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (You can read further, through verse 7.)

Acts 5:29 - Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than man!"

Titus 3:9 - But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

Proverbs 20:3 - It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.

Proverbs 8:7-8 - Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will be wiser still.

James 1:19-20 - My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Romans 12:18 - If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Psalm 133:1 - How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

Ephesians 4:3 - Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Matthew 5:5 - Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

1 Peter 3:8 - Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another, by sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Philippians 2:3-4 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Ephesians 6:10-11 - Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

Romans 12:19 - Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

Deuteronomy 1:30 - The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes

Ephesians 4:31-32 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 - Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.