“Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
Politics seems to have become a religion.
We have reached a point in our country where we believe any party (other than the one we prefer) is venal and hates America. Our own preferred party, alone, can be trusted to lead us to the “Promised Land.” All others are bent on the planned destruction of the country we purport to love. The leaders of those miscreant groups are regarded as tools of Satan and should be eternally condemned.
Am I overstating?
Look at these comments about Nancy Pelosi...
This Pelosi woman and her cohorts are a threat to the United States of America, She has a link that is corrupt, her soul has evil intent.
Nancy Pelosi is extremely evil.
Or, Barack Obama...
God showed me Obama is the one who will fulfill Daniel’s prophecy about an evil king who takes action against the strongest fortress on earth with the help of a foreign god
Or Rush Limbaugh...
Rush Limbaugh was a shitty, cynical person who did everything he could to make the world meaner, dumber, and more divided. I'm glad he's dead and I wish it had happened a lot sooner.
It's easy to make fun of Rush Limbaugh right now, but it's important to remember that he also brought a lot of people a lot of joy by dying
I may have disagreed with him on everything, but I think we can all agree that even the worst of us doesn’t deserve the suffering that Satan is going through now that he has to deal with Rush Limbaugh
Or, Donald Trump...
This man is a pathological liar. He doesn't know the difference between truth and lies. He lies practically every word that comes out of his mouth."
You know how you make America great again? Tell Donald Trump to go to hell.
I don’t want to give him any more oxygen. That’s not a euphemism, by the way. I mean it literally. Somebody get me the pillow they used to kill [Supreme Court Justice Antonin] Scalia and I’ll do it — I’ll do it!
Rhetoric like this should be unsettling for all Christians. Unfortunately, in many cases, it is professing Christians making the statements. Now, I don’t believe all Christians must necessarily agree on politics. Truth be told, there is enough good...and bad...in every party that should suggest caution as we exercise our duties as citizens. There is, however, a responsibility that all Christians share in this respect. We cannot be party to the scurrilous and libelous chatter.
- “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35, 35
- “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:4, 5
- “For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” Matthew 7:2
Store this in your heart and mind: We, as Christians are commanded to love others...and not just other Christians. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus says “love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute you.” How than, do we recognize and proclaim Biblically unacceptable character?
We do it without anger or judgement. We do it with patience and kindness so we don’t dishonor others. Furthermore, once the person is off the scene we do not keep a record of their perceived faults. Finally...God will judge us in the same manner we judge others. So, if I insist on proclaiming Mr. Trump is an inveterate liar, God will judge me according to my own truthfulness. If I insist on declaring Ms. Pelosi as evil I will be judged by God according to my own worthiness. That will be embarrassing.
My point is critical: we Christians are possibly the only group capable of restoring sanity to our culture. But, only if we conduct ourselves as such. The next time I feel tempted to disparage another person I need to stop myself and ask “am I part of the solution or part of the problem?” Furthermore, if I’m comfortable joining the cacophonous hate-filled mob, do I have any business calling myself a Christian?
I’m deadly serious...
Live boldly out there today...
