Counsel #4 — Creating Safe Spaces

Picture: Counsel #4 — Creating Safe SpacesCSI 23.1

Have you ever felt uncomfortable sitting across from someone who looks different from you, making meaningful conversation difficult? This discomfort often stems from feeling "unsafe" due to perceived racial differences. Sin has created an "us vs. them" mentality, focusing on our dissimilarities. Even Christians can struggle to remember that at the foot of the cross, there is only one race — the human race.CSI 23.2

Loving Jesus means seeing everyone as He does: each person is His beloved child. When you choose to love Jesus, He fills you with the ability to love others as He does. You’ll see that all people are of equal value to God. Instead of avoiding difficult discussions, you'll care for others, listen to their pain, and speak gently and thoughtfully to those who are hurting. Other people's thoughts, opinions, and experiences matter because you desire healing for broken relationships. With Christ in you, anger is set aside, feelings of inferiority or superiority vanish, and your open-hearted attitude creates a safe space for difficult, healing dialogues.^{[54]https://adventistreview.org/magazine-article/the-color-of-lives-that-matter-to-god/}CSI 23.3

“They are not to insult anyone or be argumentative. Instead, they are to be gentle and perfectly courteous to everyone.” Titus 3:2 ISVCSI 23.4

“We are all woven together in the great web of humanity, and whatever we can do to benefit and uplift others will reflect in blessing upon ourselves. The law of mutual dependence runs through all classes of society. Ellen White in Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 534, 535CSI 23.5

Reflect: With Jesus in your heart, are you willing to create safe spaces that encourage open and respectful communication with others different from yourself?CSI 23.6