March 5, 2018

Treat Each Other With Respect

But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. – James 3:8-9

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

– Genesis 1:27

There it was again. The words slammed “liberals” this time. Not to worry. He slams “gays,” gun-control advocates, Democrats, and just about everyone who dares to disagree with his opinion. Then he turns right around and proclaims Jesus as Lord and Savior. Does anyone else see the hypocrisy in this?

He is a nice man. You’d like him if you met him. You really would. At least you would if you stayed away from politics. He just seems to lose all reason when it comes to his conservative agenda. He is not alone.

Honestly, I don’t care what your opinions happen to be. The First Amendment – everyone remembers that one I hope – guarantees the right to free speech. What bothers me are the mean attacks aimed at the opposing side. What happened to civility? What happened to staying on point and keeping ourselves focused on the issues? When did it all get to be so personal that we believe it’s okay to viciously attack someone, then proclaim God is good?

Every person was created in God’s image. I believe that because it’s what the Bible says. God loves equally the liberal and conservative person. God loves all of us, whether we acknowledge that love or not. So how can we look on someone created in God’s image and condemn that person all the while claiming to love Him?

I’ve had so many explain it this way: It’s my opinion. I’m entitled to my opinion. Yes, you are. The honest debate helps all of us be better people and find solutions to the problems our nation faces. Or, at least, that’s how it’s supposed to work in a democracy.

We look around and see hatred bubbling up everywhere. It’s always someone else’s fault. Then we start bashing people who disagree with us. It’s not about the issue, it’s about those “stupid” people who don’t think like we do.

The one thing we all seem to agree on is how bad Congress has become. The members can’t seem to get anything done. I wonder why? Could it be because they’re too busy catering to a shifting political agenda and their own pocketbooks to actually focus on honest debate and true solutions. That might require compromise. It might cause a loud backlash from voters. No one wants to believe that someone on the other side might actually make a good point now and again.

Congress is inept because we demand they be so. Those politicians look at us – loud, ugly children so intent on getting our own way that we can’t remember how to share – and decide to be just the same. When are we going to actually start living the faith we so loudly proclaim?

Jesus said to love each other. There is no place in Christianity for hatred. Whenever you point ugly fingers at those who disagree, you’ve pointed an ugly finger at someone made in God’s image. Stop it.

Look in the mirror and fix yourself. Choose words that focus on the issues, and not the person you disagree with. In all things, at all times, remember that person is someone God loves. Treat him with kindness and respect. Live the faith you so loudly proclaim. We’ll all be better people, a better nation, because of it.

January 26, 2018

Cloak Comments With Grace, Mercy

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. – Proverbs 31:8-9

Immigration is an issue. Always. The children of those who came to the United States illegally has become a push point for many. We live in a land where skin color continues to be an issue. We want to “choose” who can come based on their country of origin rather than who they are as individuals.

Welfare is another major point of disagreement. Misinformation is everywhere. Illegals get thousands while seniors get so little. Seriously? It’s just so much easier to believe lies than to look for the truth.

That misinformation fuels hate. We have left compassion and kindness and love behind. And we do it all while holding high the banner of Jesus. Does anyone else see the absurdity of it all?

Jesus was filled with compassion and mercy. He gave grace to all. No. He didn’t condone sin. In fact, He said to go and sin no more. But He did extend forgiveness. We’ve forgotten that.

We deserve better, we tell ourselves. They did wrong, we remind them again and again. We behave as though all the money and all the land in this country actually belongs to us. It doesn’t. Everything comes from God. Where is He in all this?

Years ago I lived in a state with a wonderful program for job skill training for people receiving welfare. It was awesome. The problem was people, especially women, weren’t moving forward and keeping those jobs. It caused quite an outcry.

At least it did until someone wisely investigated the situation. They found that when the job training ended and the job began, childcare benefits ended. No one at a minimum wage job can afford housing, food, medical care and day care.

Of course, the outcry rose that “they shouldn’t have had those children if they can’t take care of them!” Who can argue with that? But the reality is that the children existed and needed care. So the state extended benefits at a graduated level. As the pay level rose, the benefits decreased until the worker was fully self-supporting. It was a win-win for everyone.

I don’t have answers to this current debate. I don’t think anyone really does. But if you want to use Jesus’ name in all this, be sure to cloak your comments with grace and mercy not greed and judgement. Every time you use His name to condemn the poor or the outcast, you are condemning yourself. Think about that for a while.

January 25, 2018

Where Is Jesus?

Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. – Proverbs 18:2

As I write this, our government has shut down. Not really, of course. It’s just that Congress is having yet another fuss and nobody is getting paid. Except for Congress. They always get paid.

Everyone has an opinion. Few people have even tried to understand the issues. It’s not a Republican or Democrat issue. It’s not an “us” vs. “them” type of issue. It’s a people issue. It’s also an economic issue. But, for Congress and the White House, it’s a power issue. And that is the root of the problem.

Battle lines have been drawn. Hateful words and finger pointing make all the news reports. Except no one really seems to care about the people who will suffer. There are those who won’t be paid. And there are those who might be deported from the only country they have ever known.

Where is Jesus in all this? Does He live in the hearts of those who would exile those who don’t have proper documentation? Is He evident in the lives of those who place politics above the financial security of government workers, including our military?

The truth is Jesus isn’t present at all. He isn’t present in the lives of those who spew hatred on Facebook. He isn’t evident in the hearts of those who think with their pocketbooks rather than their faith.

I don’t have any answers. That might surprise you. I know that Jesus wouldn’t deport people who grew up in this country because of the mistakes of their parents. He would grant them grace and a pardon. And I know Jesus would pay people the fair wages they had earned.

And I believe above all else that Jesus would tear apart the members of Congress for their political ploys. He wouldn’t care which political party they belonged to. I would love to see our Savior marching in, throwing aside desks and demanding that the members rule in love, with integrity and compassion.

Those things left long ago. Now it’s all about political agendas and power. Why should Congress solve the budget issues? Really, it doesn’t impact them. They don’t pay into Social Security. They have their own health care system. They have a cushy retirement with very few years on the job. They have no incentives to fix the issues facing the rest of us.

We the people are so split that we can’t rise up to change Congress. We the people are so busy fighting each other that we can’t collectively remind Congress that it works for us, not the other way around.

I don’t know how this is all going to end. It’s just so sad. 

May 9, 2016

Pray For Politicians

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

Maybe you’ve noticed that we’re in the middle of a rather contentious presidential race. There’s plenty of finger pointing to go around.

It simply highlights what has been going on in our country for the last few years. We have a Congress that seems so intent on arguing that they can’t get much done. Except hold hearings. They hold lots and lots of hearings.

Honestly, sometimes they all seem inept. Whatever happened to common sense? Whatever happened to them being our representatives not political powerbrokers?

And whatever happened to praying for those who in authority?

This was part of our discussion yesterday and everyone agreed that praying for our politicians seems like a wasted effort. This mess -- and how can we call it anything else -- seems too far gone to fix. How can we turn these professional politicians into respected statesmen (or women) who know how to reach across the aisle and form a compromise that benefits everyone?

Maybe we are selling God short. Huh? Yeah. You read that right. We don’t pray because we don’t see a possibility of fixing it. We can’t. You and I. But God can. God can do anything. So if we truly believe that why aren’t we praying for Him to intervene?

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. -- 2 Chronicles 7:14

There it is. If we call on His name, if we repent and seek God, then He will heal our land. We want that. We’re quick to say that we want God to heal our land. But do we really?