June 4, 2018

Both Political Parties Are Wrong

Have mercy on us, LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt. We have endured no end of ridicule from the arrogant, of contempt from the proud. – Psalm 123:3-4

It’s the day before Election Day. We have survived the ugly political ads, the nasty comments from friends, and the political signs that seem to multiply overnight.

You’re probably thinking it’s those nasty Democrats causing all the trouble. It’s fun to bash them and blame all our troubles elsewhere. But the truth isn’t so pretty. This is a primary election and those nasty words are coming from Republicans who also loudly proclaim their Christian faith and conservative values.

The truth is that neither party gets it all right or all wrong when it comes to Biblical teachings. Someone who is a Republican isn’t necessarily a “good” Christian. Attending church every Sunday doesn’t make someone a person of faith. And loudly proclaiming your religion doesn’t mean that behind closed doors you actually live it.

Two candidates running for office are a good example. One proclaims his faith. I just found out we attend the same church. I’ve never, ever seen him or any member of his family at any service or event. Maybe I missed him. Or maybe not. His opponent keeps his comments on the issues and says nothing about faith. I know his family. I know he is a man who slips into church without announcing his presence. I know his faith goes deep and it shows in his integrity. Who is the “better” Christian?

Some candidates who proclaim their faith loudly bash immigrants – both legal and illegal. They condemn the poor as lazy and blame the media for every exposed lie. We need to put God back in schools and government. That’ll fix everything. Just ask them.

But don’t ask them what the Bible says about welcoming immigrants because our ancestors were once foreigners in a foreign land. Don’t question them about Jesus’ comments on taking care of the poor, about guiding one another, about teaching our children right from wrong. Yes. Everyone should obey the law. And, yes, everyone who is able should work. But the issue goes much deeper. Who among us has bothered to research it? Who among us even attempts to show compassion and mercy to those who are in need? Who among us dares to be Jesus when doing so contradicts our political tag?

Others think it’s okay to kill unborn children. They consider that everyone has rights but not those in the womb. They remember that not too many years ago Christians used the Bible to “justify” racial discrimination. Some of them still do. They believe that putting God in “His place” will put everyone on a level field with equal opportunities. They try to deny our identity in a vain attempt to justify multiplying wrong.

Politics is about power, money and self. Does anyone run for political office to try and truly bring change? Sometimes. But it doesn’t last long. Compromise and working together are what bring change. Unfortunately, compromise doesn’t win elections.

How do we change this political climate? I don’t have a clue. I pray and vote for individuals. It’s not about a particular political party. It’s about God. It’s about honoring Him. Until we get that right, nothing else will ever change.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Pleasing God Is What Matters

Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt. We have endured much ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant. -- Psalm 123:3-4

Some days it seems as though I have spent a lifetime trying to please people who were never really worth the effort. I look back and wonder what in the world I was thinking. The only approval I ever really needed was God’s.

Isn’t that true of most of us? We want people to like us. We want people to love us. We want people to like spending time with us. That’s especially true of those closest to us. When they reject us, we feel that rejection deep inside and we try just about anything to change it.

But we can’t. We can only be who God has called us to be. And that’s enough. The voices that say it isn’t come from Satan. That’s hard to hear and even harder to accept. It’s like we’d rather pretend something is wrong with us than to look at our accusers and see and hear the voice of Satan.

I’m not trying to say that any of us are perfect. We’re not. Nor will we always get along. Everyone has disagreements. Everyone has selfish moments. Everyone sometimes lives down to what they’d rather not be.

But love shouldn’t be so hard. It shouldn’t hurt so badly. And it never seeks to destroy. That isn’t love and it isn’t from God. It’s taken me a lifetime to understand that.

Believing God is so freeing. It means that I don’t have to worry so much about what other people see or think when they look my way. I don’t have to try so hard to please people who, frankly, are never going to like me anyway. And I sure don’t have to keep getting kicked down by people who put me down in order to feel better about themselves.

I know. I have forgiven them. They are who and what they are. They didn’t choose me anymore than I chose them. Nor can they fix themselves. I pray daily that God will touch their hearts and they will finally be the people they claim to be. Some days I have hope. Other days I just don’t see the point.

Then the Holy Spirit reminds me that with God there is always hope. With God all things are possible. With God broken hearts and torn apart lives can be rebuilt and restored.

I pray that happens. I do. But I’m not going to try anymore to please anyone but God. He’s the only One who matters. I want to stay focused on His light and trust that He’ll handle all the rest.