It used to be "Breaking News." Now it's more like Heartbreaking News.

 

Turn it on and you're likely to see and hear a lot of angry people. If you turn off the TV and check out social media, there it is again. Everybody's angry about something. Lots of hostility. Lots of yelling. And, sorry to say, there's bitterness and hate in the air.

 

Everybody's talking - or shouting. Nobody's listening.

 

Words are triggers. Hearts are hard. Minds are closed. You're either "us" or you're "the enemy." It's a harsh and hurting time.

 

And then there's Jesus.

 

His people, the Jews, hated the Samaritans. Jesus made it a point to route His journey through Samaria so He and the disciples could talk with Samaritans. When He told a story about who's a good neighbor, the hero of His story was - yes, a Samaritan.

 

And His selection of His team was nothing short of scandalous. On the one hand, He calls a despised tax collector, a man who victimized and exploited his own people. Then, on the other hand, Jesus calls a Zealot - dedicated to the violent overthrow of the occupying Romans.

 

But then Jesus. They left their hatreds to become something so much higher - a disciple of Jesus Christ! The Man they would serve together and live and die for.

 

And after chastising His disciples for being "of little faith," there was one man whose faith Jesus called "amazing." A Roman commander whose dying servant Jesus healed!

 

It's obvious Jesus sees something far beyond the divisive labels we slap on people. The Bible says that "when He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them." He didn't see Jews and Samaritans and Gentiles. Or priests and publicans and paupers.

 

"He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36).

 

If we find our heart turning cold toward any person or group, we are drifting into a spiritual danger zone. Drifting far from the tender, forgiving heart of the One who died for us "while we were yet sinners" (Romans 5:8).

 

We can't fix all the hostility and hate in our culture right now, but we can start by making a difference right where we are. We can live a hopeful alternative. To ask Jesus to show us what He sees when He looks at the people who aren't like us - and who we may not like.

 

At the root of all this brokenness, is one brutally destructive mistake:

 

We see categories, instead of people!

 

"I know your occupation - that's all I need to know." "I know what ethnicity you are - so I know all about you." "I know what political party you are - so I know all about you." "I know your denomination - I know you." "I hear your view on one of the polarized issues of our day, and I have the label to paste on you."

 

And then there's Jesus.

 

When He sees us, He doesn't see categories. He sees one-of-a-kind individuals created in the very image of God.

 

He sees individuals He loves so much, He thought each one was worth dying for.

 

When that's what you see - individuals cherished by God - it's very hard to harden your heart to them. Because He loves them.

 

When you see what Jesus sees, you are what's desperately needed amid so many hard and angry hearts.

 

You are hope.

 

Check out more from Ron Hutchcraft @Hutchcraft.com