On my 25th birthday, my mom gifted me with a book full of letters from influential people in my life. People wrote about memories we shared and the traits that make me who I am. For someone whose love language is words of affirmation, it was the perfect gift. As sweet and kind as all the words were, one line in particular challenged me to grow. It has stuck with me over the last few years. It read… "Treat everyone well; see the good in all; and give respect to those with whom you disagree." This line was a reminder of how God calls us to live.
While I strive to continue to live by these words, I have found that the culture of our country could not be farther from these ideals. With the impending election, our country has only become more divided, it seems there is more to disagree about than ever before. As I reflect on how Jesus treated all people with unconditional love, even when undeserved, I am genuinely amazed.
Unfortunately, the anonymity of today’s online culture encourages hateful comments. I have seen people call someone a "witch," "evil," or even say, "I wish they were dead.” What is worse, is they are often applauded and encouraged by those who share the same opinion. As a society, we are far from encompassing the unconditional love Jesus models for us. Instead, division, divisiveness, and distaste are the status quo and only amplified in politics.
And the enemy, oh, he loves this. He can sit back and watch as we tear each other down over ways we disagree. I have to think that Jesus is deeply disappointed by how we treat one another. In Matthew 15:18, Jesus says: "But the things that come out of a person's mouth come from the heart, and these defile them." The Bible tells us that the words we say reflect our hearts. So I have to ask myself: Who has control of my heart? Am I allowing satan to take control and speak ill words about my neighbor, or is it the Spirit in my heart controlling my tongue?
In Luke 6, Jesus challenges us to examine ourselves before judging others. He says: "It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor." I mean, talk about convicting. Jesus is calling us out! Isn't it just so easy to be quick to see and judge all the ways those around you are messing things up and doing it wrong?
The world tells us to hate our enemy, and these days, the world says that our enemy should be anyone who thinks differently than us, but by doing that, we are letting the devil win. Now, I don't know about you, but I don't want to give the devil that satisfaction! However, I am an imperfect person. My reasoning can, has, and will be flawed. If I'm honest, sometimes fear drives my decision-making. I act with selfish motives. I fall short of loving others the way God Loves me. I can not "treat everyone well, see the good in all, and give respect to those I disagree with". Instead, I do precisely what Jesus warns us about in Luke chapter 6! The only hope I have is submitting to God and depending on him. I'll be the first to admit it's hard, and no one can do it without being 100% dependent on God, returning to His Word, sitting in prayer, worshiping and praising the Father for all He has done, and remembering that the church worships Christ, not a political party.
Recently, I was doing just that, spending time in the Word and praying. I was reading James 4:
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet, but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the Spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? 13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.
In reading this and asking God to reveal wisdom to me, this is what I was convicted with:
The Lord has made it clear to me that aligning myself too closely with a political party is dangerous because Jesus is not the king of a political party. He is not the head of the Democratic, Republican, or Independent party. He is King, PERIOD. King of All. And when I align too closely with a political party, it quickly starts to contradict what the Bible says (no matter which party I choose).
Does that mean we shouldn’t vote? NO, without a doubt, voting is so important. It is our civic responsibility, and I believe everyone should and must go out and vote! But I encourage you to pray before you do. Pray for wisdom in all voting decisions. Pray for God to let His Word influence the leaders you pick for your community, state, and country. President Lincoln embodied this when he responded, "Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right."
To be on the side that is "always right" (God's side), we must humbly invite God into every part of our lives, including our decision-making process. We have to remember that we are called to be on God's side, not to have God on ours (And I'll be the first to admit that can feel really uncomfortable at times), but that is my prayer that I may be on God's side.
Only in this realization have I indeed been able to honor the new commandments Jesus lays out in John 13. "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." and "Treat everyone well; see the good in all; and give respect to those whom you disagree with." How freeing it is to have my identity not tied to a political party dependent on humans but instead to be invited into an eternal and unshakable party with a leader who made the ultimate sacrifice. Now, I don't have to defend a party that is flawed or tear down another party for its flaws because my identity is not tied to one. My identity is in Christ alone, who has already won the war.
I challenge each of you, in this voting season when the enemy has so many tactics to divide God's people, to instead cling tight to the Father, keep your eyes on eternity, remembering that "...You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14), and that our purpose is to Love God and Love people no matter what! Let us stand up against the enemy and not allow temporary earthly things to divide the people of God and distract us from eternity!
I invite you to pray with me:
Lord,
I pray that you fill our spirits with love and that as we approach the election, you allow us to show your love to others: "Treat everyone well; see the good in all; and respect those whom we disagree with." Please remind us that living in this country is a blessing and that we were placed here for such a time as this. I pray that you soften the hearts of each person reading this so that they may walk in humble submission to your calling to love and respect all people. I ask that you remind us that our words can cut like a knife if we speak without wisdom (Proverbs 12:18 reference) and that you give us a spirit of self-control that our tongue may only speak words that glorify your name, heal, and lead people to know their Savior.
