“Do not overcome evil with evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

Heads I win – tales you lose. We used to be able to get the kids with that one all the time. Lots of chores got done in our household that way. “Alright – we’ll flip a coin. If I win you have to do the dishes. Ready? – Heads I win – tales you lose!” ……they are catching on a little bit these days.

As we’re working through this Outrage Series together it’s leading me more and more towards the conclusion that hate and love are kind of like two sides to the same coin. They seem like opposites – but you can’t have one without the other. Think about it for a minute. Do you find that you get really outraged about things that you really love?

I really love my husband. I hate to see him hurting. I really love my kids. I get upset when their lives aren’t going in the right direction. I really love my church. I get angry if there is dissension. I really love peace. I get outraged when there is war. I really love food. I get mad when people are going hungry. I really love my Nook. I get upset when I don’t have enough books downloaded. I really love justice. I get outraged when I think that it isn’t served.

Get the picture?

So, I think – you can’t actually have one without the other. If you didn’t love something – you wouldn’t really care and you wouldn’t get angry about it …. right?

And I think maybe that’s the key. Maybe that’s the answer. We have to accept that these two supposed opposites go hand in hand. And to overcome the hate, the anger, the outrage, the evil and the negativity that seems to surround us – you have to cover it with love.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8

Love trumps sin. We have to put the “love” side of the coin on top each time. Overcoming outrage begins by loving. And love wins EVERY time.

Love God. Love people. Take action.