Listen, I love all of you, but I'm fixing to say something, so buckle up...
My friends list is gloriously diverse. Politically speaking,
I have liberals and Democrats and [so-called] conservatives and Republicans and
Constitutionalists and Libertarians and moderates a-plenty and galore among my
friends. I even have a stray socialist here and there. I appreciate all of your
perspectives and RARELY chime in with the logic that would dismantle the wrong
assumptions that are constantly promoted by my diverse friends on social media.
The fact that I am saying anything to ALL of you means it's important to me.
From here on out, however, if you aren't a Christian, scroll
on...don't read any further... stop right here...
Believers, proceed.
IF you are a believer, I exhort you to stop the political
foolishness.
Each crowd spends an incredible amount of time calling out
the double standards, hypocrisy, and wrong-headed OPINIONS of the other side.
Each side spends an incredible amount of time bashing the former candidate and
the current politician. During Obama's presidency, many spent his term
defending him and many spent his term vilifying him. The exact same thing is
going on with Trump now.
God doesn't call us to all this constant commentary. He
calls us to prayer. 1 Timothy 2:2's command says nothing about agreeing with
those in power, but it says everything about praying for those in authority.
Most of you won't remember this, but I said the same thing during the last 2
presidencies. If I would've had Facebook during the Clinton years, I think I
would've said the same thing then.
We are supposed to have all sorts of thoughts and feelings
about injustice, but none of us are given the permission to constantly run
people's names down and promote division and degrade others. Neither side of
the political discussion has such permission!
God does not ask us how we feel about Jeremiah 29:7 or
Romans 13:1... those things aren't about our feelings. They are God's commands
to His people, and we're supposed to be about His business.
Not just that, but each person bears God's image and
deserves a certain sort of treatment in respect of that truth.
Why do we have to defend these people anyway? Why do we have
to defend these sinful parties and policies? I say we don't! The truth is both
sides do a LOT of wrong and we should only stand for what is right in God's
sight and what is just in God's sight. We have to learn to speak on the issues
without degrading people. We have to learn how to not demonize one another as
we disagree. We have to learn how to stand against WHAT we think is wrong
without mistreating WHO we disagree with. Beloved, think about that last
sentence.
IF the CHURCH got busy in the business of Kingdom work, we
wouldn't have all the time for all these arguments and foolishness anyway.
Witness CHRIST to someone! Share JESUS with someone!
What we are supposed to be doing as believers is kindling
love and affection for Christ. We are supposed to be encouraging each other in
THE FAITH, not battling each other in the world.
It's not that I don't care about things. There are things I
hate that are too often politicized... I hate abortion. I can't stand how we
treat the poor. I think it's literally bizarre and totally unjust how we treat
mental illness in this nation. There's a lot more. Trust me, I have a long list.
I won't bore you with that. I just won't argue with people on social media
constantly.
NONE of the things I agree with or disagree with change
God's call to pray for those in authority. NONE of the things I agree with or
disagree with change God's call to the Church to preach Jesus and raise up
disciples.
Brothers and sisters, many of us are simply too caught up in
the things of the world and we need to own that, repent, and get back to the
work of God. Too many of us are trying to get comfortable in the world rather
than getting busy in the work of the Lord. We are arguing over goats when we
are supposed to be trying to live like lambs.
I declare, if we prayed as much as we fussed with each
other, Lord, what changes might we see in this world? I don't know, but I
surely know we'd see some changes in ourselves.
I love y'all. I mean it. I really do. I am open to talk
about anything, and I want my thoughts to be shaped by the truth of God's word,
solid evidence, logic, and the Spirit of Christ alive in me.
Peace to all who read these words.
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