Don’t you just love the “instant replay” idea in these commercials? We shouldn’t …

When you tap into deeply-seeded human behavior, but in a humorous way, you can produce an entertaining — and “successful” — commercial.

That’s what Progressive Auto Insurance has done with a series of commercials that draw from American’s love of football to proffer the idea of what it would be like if you could drop a “challenge flag” during a relational conflict and immediately have an “instant replay” so you can “prove your point” for a win.

For example, here’s a funny commercial of a disagreement between husband and wife:

And here’s another humorous commercial about a disagreement between father and son:

I’m sure for many of us, at first blush you might think “That would be so cool!” I mean, if in the moment of disagreement with anyone about anything we could just drop a challenge flag and have our point made with an instant replay, well, that would be great!

Or would it?

Maybe it actually moves us away from what the Bible teaches about how we should interact with others. In scripture, truth is held to be sacrosanct, but we don’t have to be dishonoring to others in upholding it.

Often, we are.

If truth is the point, then you may have to make a stand, but let’s face it, many of our conflicts — minor or major — are not over points that are worth pushing. Kind of like those in the Progressive commercials. Sometimes, the more godly (and God-glorifying) thing to do is find a way to collaborate rather than “nail” someone with an instant replay.

Look at some of the instruction we find in the Bible about interacting with parents, or spouses, or anyone else:

“Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. ‘Honor your father and mother.’ This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, ‘things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth,'” Ephesians 6:1-3.

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord,” Ephesians 6:4.

“And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ,” Ephesians 5:21.

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other,” Romans 12:9-10.

“Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king,” 1 Peter 2:17.

And if the truth is that important to us, we need to learn to be humble enough to say, “Yeah, I got that one wrong …” or “Yes, I forgot to do what I said I would do …” or “Yep, I blew it just now …” Owning our faults isn’t devaluing or demeaning, it’s actually freeing!

When there’s a real reason to stand for truth, be steadfast; when it’s just you wanting to cover ego so frail you won’t admit your own failings, you would be better off doing something like the Apostle Paul did:

“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong,” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

Scotty