IN THE MARGINS: What if we got it right? 

By Tony Martin
Editor 

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. 

When it comes to talking about current events, Christians have kind of a bad reputation. 

Now before you jump to defend the faith (or yourself), hear me out. The issue isn’t that we have a bad reputation—Jesus Himself told us the world would hate us (John 15:18). That’s not new. But the troubling part is why the world pushes back against us. 

We’re not always hated because of our Christlikeness. More often, we’re dismissed or avoided because we come across as loud, angry, self-righteous, and frankly, kind of mean. 

I wish that weren’t true. But if we’re honest, we know it often is. 

I’ll be the first to raise my hand. I’ve reacted with indignation instead of compassion. I’ve ranted when I should have listened. I’ve treated every headline like a call to arms rather than a chance to show grace. 

I think it’s because I’ve slipped into believing that my job as a Christian is to loudly condemn evil. To stand up and shout at the darkness. But here’s the thing: Jesus didn’t say the greatest commandment was to yell at sin. He said it was to love God and love others (Matthew 22:37–39). 

What if we actually lived like that? 

What if, every time we entered a conversation about what’s going on in the world, we saw it as an opportunity to show love instead of proving a point? 

I’m not talking about being soft on truth or pretending injustice doesn’t exist. I’m talking about a posture of peace. Of kindness. Of self-control. You know, the things listed in Galatians 5:22–23—the fruit of the Spirit. The evidence that Christ is actually alive and at work in us. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” (Galatians 5:22–23, ESV) 

What if we let those qualities shape the way we talk about everything—politics, disasters, tragedies, policies, protests? What if our conversations didn’t just call out what’s wrong, but also revealed the One who makes things right? 

Because here’s what I know: people around us are drowning in headlines. They’re anxious. Overwhelmed. Scared. They don’t need more noise—they need hope. And if we’re following Jesus, we carry the ultimate hope inside us. 

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6, ESV) 

We don’t need to win debates. We need to win people. 

And it starts by changing the way we talk. 

So here’s a little challenge. A spiritual experiment, if you will. This week, when the news comes up in conversation (and it will), pick one person. Just one. And make sure that by the time that conversation ends, they feel better than when it started. 

Not because you glossed over sin or whistled past real concerns, but because you refused to add fuel to the fire. Because you reminded them—maybe even without saying it outright—that God is still on the throne and He loves us more than we can imagine. 

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1, ESV) 

Here are five ways to help you live this out: 

1. Lead with empathy. 

Before you react, listen. Try to understand where the other person is coming from. You don’t have to agree with them, but you can honor their humanity. 

2. Speak life, not fear. 

Don’t just echo the panic or outrage. Speak with calm and confidence in God’s sovereignty. Say things that lift people’s eyes to something higher than the headlines. 

3. Practice restraint. 

Just because you could make that snarky comment or drop that truth bomb doesn’t mean you should. Let gentleness guide your words, especially on social media. 

4. Redirect the conversation. 

Find a way to shift the focus from what’s broken to what’s hopeful. Point to the people doing good. Highlight stories of redemption. Talk about what God’s doing in the midst of the mess. 

5. Pray before you speak. 

Seriously. Just a quick “Lord, help me be light here” can change the entire tone of a conversation. You’re not just representing yourself—you’re representing Him. 

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9, ESV) 

So what if we got it right? What if Christians were known not just for what we’re against, but for how we love? What if we became the calm voice in a stormy world? 

I think we’d look a lot more like Jesus. 

And that’s the whole point.