Have you found it difficult to find solutions to problems with people you disagree with? It can be hard when you don’t see eye to eye, but the key to progress may be found in a commitment to continuing the dialogue and doing as the apostle Paul said in Romans 13:9b, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Loving your neighbor is not always an easy thing to do. However, there’s no qualifier here. If we begin to truly love our neighbor as we love ourselves, we’re going to start healing racial divides in this nation and around the world. It will mean valuing each other, getting to know each other and respecting each other without bias as to race, religion or color, because we’re all made in the image and likeness of God.
One of the reasons for the current epidemic of unrest and violence we’re seeing in our nation as a whole, I believe, is because of a lack of godly leadership. This was the topic of conversation during my recent Expect a Miracle podcast with my special guest, Bishop T.D. Jakes, who shares these thoughts concerning the deficit of leadership in the home, in the church and in society in general.
I asked Bishop Jakes to begin with a little about how God brought him up through the ranks of the ministry, from a small, hometown church in West Virginia to become the pastor of this megachurch and leader of the national ministry he heads today.
“Growing up in West Virginia, I was constantly in an environment that was inclusive. I have maintained that because I think it’s the will of God for the church. I think it’s good for the country. I think it’s good for our children to know that the world is bigger than your culture, or your generation, or your theology.”
“It’s the love of Christ that draws people, not the letter of the law. So I’ve always tried to communicate with various types of people to articulate my faith, listen to them and include their own perspectives. We can’t divide just because we disagree on some things.”
We also talk about Bishop Jakes’ new book, Don’t Drop the Mic, in which he has more to say about dialoguing—keeping the conversation going and continuing to discuss the uncomfortable issues—and about the leadership and communication skills we pass on to our future men and women who will be in ministry and leadership positions. Bishop Jakes explains it this way, “I teach people how to listen better. I say, ‘If you lose your hearing, your speech deteriorates.’ This is why I show people how to listen and then how to respond in such a way that the solution is not lost in the defense of their position.'”
It is through such conversations that we can develop compassion and a heart for hurting, broken people. And if you are longing for a way to better articulate your own faith and how to truly demonstrate the love of Christ, I believe this podcast will be a blessing to you, and possibly give you a new way of thinking about who your neighbor really is and how to love them.
For Richard Roberts’ full interview with Bishop T.D. Jakes, listen to Expect A Miracle here. For more Spirit-filled content like this, subscribe to Expect a Miracle with Richard Roberts on the Charisma Podcast Network. {eoa}
Richard Roberts, D. Min., is chief executive officer of Oral Roberts Ministries and co-hosts with his wife, Lindsay, a daily inspirational TV program, The Place for Miracles. Dr. Roberts is also the founder of the Richard Roberts School of Miracles, hosting thousands of online students from more than 140 countries. Richard conducts healing meetings throughout America, as well as ministers to and teaches pastors in underdeveloped countries the fundamental principles of healing, seed-faith and the Holy Spirit, so they may do the greater works of Jesus in their regions of the world.
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