Moving from Seething to Healing: 8 Ways We Can Do Better [INFOGRAPHIC]

Over the past few years, we have experienced an extraordinary number of painful events and have witnessed what feels like an unprecedented amount of emotional, relational, and physical destruction and death. Social media has become an easy platform for attacks, accusations, and blame. In light of all of these challenges, what can you and I do to really make a difference? What will lead to contagious, genuine change at the grassroots level of personal relationships? God is not unaware of our mess. He has been watching it for far longer than our lifetimes. And he also gives us specific direction on how we can be better and do better. Here are eight specific and practical ways to do so.

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Signs our families, churches, organizations, and country need healing:

1. Accepting only those that look like me, think like me, and act like me.

2. Serving my own goals and pursuing my own agenda.

3. Caring only about me, my family, and those on my most favored list.

4. Giving up hope in those who disappoint me and fail to live up to my expectations.

5. Disrespecting others by failing to see them as having value and worth.

6. Attacking, critiquing, and demeaning those with whom I do not agree.

7. Urging others towards hate, gossip, maliciousness, and evil.

8. Telling others how stupid they are especially when they do not agree with my position.

Actions we are called to take instead:

1. Accept one another.

   Romans 15:7 - “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

2. Serve one another.

   Galatians 5:13 - “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

3. Carry burdens for one another.

   Galatians 6:2 - “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ…”

4. Bear with one another.

   Ephesians 4:2 - “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

5. Honor one another.

   Romans 12:10 - “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

6. Encourage one another.

   1 Thess. 5:11 - “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

7. Spur one another to love and good work.

   Hebrews 10:24 - “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…”

8. Gently instruct one another.

   2 Timothy 2:25 - “Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth…”

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Jay Desko is the CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.