Why do we naturally react this way?

The Olympics ended with many medals but also with numerous comments that have caused controversy and all kinds of reactions on social media. Topics like LGBTIQ, sanctions, Seine River pollution, poor Olympic Village installations, and many more.

Interestingly, after the storm comes the calm; when tempers cool and the tension eases, we go back to watching the events full of frenzy and eager to see who will win and how many medals our country has.

That’s how we react!

Our defense system includes all areas of our being: physical, mental or emotional, and spiritual. We will always react in one way or another when any of these areas are threatened, and even more so if more than one is affected simultaneously.

We are familiar with physical threats. The mental or emotional threat is when a conversation, image, video, or something you hear clashes with your emotions and upsets you, for example, when a baby cries inconsolably followed by desperation. The spiritual threat is when something clashes with your beliefs that determine how you live and see the world. An example of a threat to all three would be a group of radicals harming people close to you; it’s a physical, emotional, and spiritual threat. That’s why these news stories cause the most uproar (in case you didn’t know).

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you" Luke 6:27-28 NKJV

Why does Jesus command us to do this?

In this passage, there are five verbs: hear, love, do, bless, and pray. (Hate and curse function as adjectives describing those doing wrong). What Jesus wants us to avoid when we feel threatened (besides breaking the commandment to love one another) is:

1.React in the same way they do, because we would fall into the same category as them.

2. Spread negative feelings with what we do or say.

We are in an era where social media has allowed hateful words to spread very quickly. We judge without thinking or questioning what we read or see, we pass judgment and increase words and feelings of hate or rejection.

Nowhere does it say to avoid our feelings and emotions, but it does say to control what we say or do.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

And when it says mouth, it also includes what we write.

May these Olympics, which gave us so much to talk about, be an example where we see bad things, do not let them lead us to be carried away by our emotions; rather, let us celebrate those who gave all the glory and honor to God in their triumphs and may God continue to bless them.

Remember to pray, meditate, reflect, and share the word of God. The word is a great treasure that the Lord has given you so that you may have a great life, here and eternally.

God bless you!