Another election season has begun and it's no surprise that it's as contentious and pugnacious as ever. And it will continue to worsen until the day of the election (and maybe even after as we saw this past election).
We call ourselves a Christian country - or at least a majority Christian - and yet the behavior on both sides is anything but Christian. Accusations, name calling, screaming and even calls for violence are an everyday occurrence. Somehow we feel justified doing all these things and more. The division is increasing and turning into pure hatred. While we used to respectfully disagree with the "other side," now each side feels so righteous in their beliefs that they feel the need to demonize the other side. No longer is there a sharing of ideas or a healthy debate where debaters leave the room shaking hands and slapping backs.
Brothers and sisters, stop. Stop this behavior which is anything but Christ-like. Stop acting like the world is going to end because the other side won the election. Stop calling names, making unsubstantiated accusations, being disrespectful and worse. We have a system in place and we work through the system to accomplish our goals in an orderly and lawful way. And when the other side wins, we take a couple of days to lick our wounds but then we are supposed to be gracious (remember who showed us mercy and grace??) and respectful. There will be another election to try and be persuasive - unless Jesus comes for His bride before the election and that's even better!!!
Perhaps we aren't opening our Bibles enough and remembering God's instructions.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1Peter 2:17
The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. Proverbs 21:1
These are just a few scriptures that command us to not only be respectful, but to pray for our leaders. Our leaders have difficult jobs and need our prayers. God has appointed them and will use them as He wills and yet He listens to our prayers and can be stirred by them. God doesn't care about politics - God cares about souls; about character; about people. And His ways are not our ways. . . . . . .
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
Therefore we are arrogant when we believe we know better than God. We do not have His vantage point or His mind. We see things from our perspective only - our time in history, our color, our sex, our culture, etc. God is above all these things. God is wise, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. He uses believers and nonbelievers alike. And so we are to trust Him and obey His commands. We would be far better off to be less concerned about politics and more concerned about sharing the good news with others.
We call ourselves a Christian country - or at least a majority Christian - and yet the behavior on both sides is anything but Christian. Accusations, name calling, screaming and even calls for violence are an everyday occurrence. Somehow we feel justified doing all these things and more. The division is increasing and turning into pure hatred. While we used to respectfully disagree with the "other side," now each side feels so righteous in their beliefs that they feel the need to demonize the other side. No longer is there a sharing of ideas or a healthy debate where debaters leave the room shaking hands and slapping backs.
Brothers and sisters, stop. Stop this behavior which is anything but Christ-like. Stop acting like the world is going to end because the other side won the election. Stop calling names, making unsubstantiated accusations, being disrespectful and worse. We have a system in place and we work through the system to accomplish our goals in an orderly and lawful way. And when the other side wins, we take a couple of days to lick our wounds but then we are supposed to be gracious (remember who showed us mercy and grace??) and respectful. There will be another election to try and be persuasive - unless Jesus comes for His bride before the election and that's even better!!!
Perhaps we aren't opening our Bibles enough and remembering God's instructions.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1Peter 2:17
The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. Proverbs 21:1
These are just a few scriptures that command us to not only be respectful, but to pray for our leaders. Our leaders have difficult jobs and need our prayers. God has appointed them and will use them as He wills and yet He listens to our prayers and can be stirred by them. God doesn't care about politics - God cares about souls; about character; about people. And His ways are not our ways. . . . . . .
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
Therefore we are arrogant when we believe we know better than God. We do not have His vantage point or His mind. We see things from our perspective only - our time in history, our color, our sex, our culture, etc. God is above all these things. God is wise, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. He uses believers and nonbelievers alike. And so we are to trust Him and obey His commands. We would be far better off to be less concerned about politics and more concerned about sharing the good news with others.
