I know that I joke about having a lot of pet peeves. However, I have a pretty good sense of humour. And so, I usually allow trivial pet peeves to wash off of me with nothing more than a shrug and perhaps the opportunity to share a bit of a chuckle.
Saying that, I’d still like to share this one thought. Just because somebody happens to trigger one of my BIG pet peeves does not mean that I am not responsible for my thoughts, responses, and reactions to those triggers.
For example, I have absolutely no obligation to comment on statements or posts that I disagree with, and I have absolutely no obligation to have a rotten day because someone disagreed with me. I don’t have to invest my time and energy in coming up with a cool rebuttal that proves I am right and they are wrong either in person, text, or comment.
I have options. I can keep my mouth shut while keeping my mind and heart open. I can take up God’s invitation for a time out to process my solid emotional reaction to somebody’s face to face comments or posts on social media before I respond in haste.
The only obligation I have is to love.
Does your right to hold onto a pet peeve take precedent over being accountable for your reactions and heart responses toward those who tick you off?
There are core tenets of my Christian faith that I will never compromise. Such as: the goodness of God, the deity of Jesus Christ – fully God and fully man. Salvation only through Jesus’ death on the cross, His shed blood, and His resurrection. The Bible is my go-to point of reference. However, focusing on what I hold in common with those who see life differently than I do allows me to disagree on the peripherals without carrying offences and building concrete dogmatic walls.
The early church is a beautiful example of setting differences aside while focusing on the central issues. I encourage you to read Acts 15 to see how the very Jewish believers in Jerusalem and Paul – the Apostle to the gentiles – forged a unified agreement that resulted in the gospel’s spread throughout the world.
©2022 Katherine Walden