Politicians Should Be Guided By Jesus
Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. -- Proverbs 11:2
Sometimes the fighting and bickering in Washington makes me want to give up thinking that our elected officials will ever be able to put the country’s needs before partisan politics. Of course, they would argue that their partisan politics is merely a fight for what’s best for the country. And so the circus goes.
Each side -- and there are way more than two -- has people who truly believe they’re totally right and everyone else is totally wrong. Of course, it doesn’t work that way. Nobody is all right or all wrong. That’s why they need to compromise.
One of the most bothersome things about this entire spectacle is that so many of those involved claim to be Christians. You know. Those people who believe in Jesus. The One who told us to love everyone, including our enemies. I would think He probably also meant political rivals and people in that other political party.
Adam Hamilton addressed this issue in his book, Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White. He wrote, “Part of the polarization we are experiencing in our country today is a result of pastors and church leaders who have abandoned the teachings of Jesus an the apostles regarding the way we speak of those with whom we disagree. Part of the healing of our nation must come from the church modeling for our society how we are to love those with whom we disagree. Right now we’re modeling for society how we destroy with our words and actions those we disagree with.”
Does that convict anyone? It should. Politicians sometimes seek to polarize groups, pitting themselves as the “good” guys against all others. It doesn’t serve any purpose beyond pride and self-advancement. And that has nothing to do with Jesus.
Hamilton gives four ways to avoid speaking ill of each other: avoid judging others, search your own heart, look for the good in other people and be humble. Sounds like something that came out of the Bible.
Imagine a political world where everyone refrained from judging those who disagreed with them, where all politicians searched their own hearts for motives, where all people looked for the good in others and where everyone did away with their pride and humbled themselves, realizing how insignificant we all are in comparison to the awesome God we serve.
Wow. Washington could actually start solving issues rather than making things worse with all the drama.
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