This day and age is full of controversies that plague our timelines, headlines and tv channels. Protests after protests are being held and heard, screaming for change to come. Such has been the result of people being fed up with discrimination, oppression and all kinds of injustices, with some having been around beyond when one can even remember. Look no further, even these are present in some households and it has been absolutely essential to speak up every now and then.

In these kinds of arguments, it is important to note that I do not agree with the fact that one should be deemed automatically right or automatically wrong or that it doesn’t even matter, but if what you say doesn’t come from a place of love, then you’re ultimately wrong.

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.. Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)

4Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends… 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother[a] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults[b] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell[c] of fire Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV)

However, maybe it’s not about who’s right or who’s wrong sometimes, but about submission to the One who’s standard is always right. It’s about being molded like Christ.

2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[a] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 (ESV)

Being like Christ requires humility. It requires truly being secure in our identity in God, while acknowledging that we do not deserve God’s grace in the first place. It’s letting our pride, self-centeredness and ego decrease and letting Him increase for all that He is. It’s about submission to the Holy Spirit and it is impossible to please God apart from faith.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

It is not my intention as well to condone you to be quiet amidst oppression. In this time that we’re in, truth is being distorted. What’s right is just a matter of consensus. God said it Himself in the following verse to:

Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and plead the widow’s cause. Isaiah 1:17

But, we have to remember that seeking justice, correcting oppression, bringing justice to the fatherless and pleasing the widow’s cause can be mere, empty and wicked acts themselves, in certain contexts. In these kinds of situations, it is essential to go back to the Source. Go back to the fact that:

2  Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,  but the Lord weighs the heart. 3 To do righteousness and justice  is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:2-3 (ESV)

Jesus Christ did not condemn people. He loved them. Jesus Christ did not remain quiet amidst wickedness. He spoke up, became angry, but did not sin in the process. Jesus Christ is the perfect activist and ultimately, in Christ, we have this promise:

For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14 (NIV)

All in all, the solution is only found in God. Therefore, we must just be willing to invite Him into our lives and be true in our commitment to make Him our Savior and Lord for the rest of our lives.