by Bill Brady

What are we to do when we are triggered by what someone says?

Here is what I suggest:

• Engage the statement to discern the frequency on it.
• If unable to do so we then gently dialog privately with the person who made the statement.
• Discern their frequency in this matter.
• Primary purpose in the dialog is to maintain mutual honor and unity.
• Secondary purpose is to discern the intent behind the statement.

It may just be words and semantics.

Or it can be attitude or error that is of a lower frequency.

• Words can be fixed.
• Attitude and error may need to be addressed.
• By dialog you may be able to bring that person back up to up to a higher frequency.
• Some issues may require private governmental action.
• Do so on behalf of the person by doing so for the entire ecclesia.

Avoid anything that divides unity by creating an “us” and a “them”.

• It is not always possible to maintain unity.
• Unity should only be broken when it’s a big issue.
• Large enough that Jesus is definitely only on one side of it.
• This would only be a really big issue.
• Apart from this, we maintain unity and agree to disagree.
• We choose to work together with beloved brothers and sisters.
• Apart from this, divine connections are exactly that.

I believe that the statement traditionally made after wedding vows applies to all divine connections,

“Therefore what God has joined together, let no man pull assunder.”

• Translation, “Don’t separate what God has joined.”
• Divine connections should only be broken at God’s direction.
• Not just because we triggered.

What is to be our attitude in doing the above?

• Most importantly, it is to be humility.
• It is a humility that recognizes that we can be wrong.
• We may not have heard God correctly.
• And, when we do hear correctly we may still not have understood fully.

It is a humility that recognizes that even though we may be right that our brother is wrong in what was said it may well be us that is wrong next time. 

• We all have had our moments of seeing in part.
• We all have had our moments of knowing in part.
• Give your brother grace.
• Another day you may need grace from him.

Paul said it best when he said,

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,  with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,  endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”